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Sleep ~ Acid? ~ Proteins ~ Exercise ~ and a recipe or two! :-)March 3rd, 2001 , by admin
Hi, Heidi! I was wondering if you could help me identify the cause of some symptoms i've been having recently (not *too* long, but enough to be of significance). Firstly, i've noticed that i've been getting really sleepy at certain times of the day. It may be that i'm usually in the same place during those times, but i can't say for certain. However, it seems to occur generally about two hours after i finish a meal. The size and composition of the meal seems to make no difference. Secondly, i've been waking in the middle of the night every day to urinate. Again, this is another interesting timing issue, as i seem to awaken between four and five hours after i fall asleep. I am fairly certain that i'm not sleep deprived as i've been going to be earlier and consequently awaking earlier, but i'm quite concerned that i'm not obtaining enough, if any, deep sleep (i wouldn't say it's been the most restful). On a similar note, i occasionally feel that i'm urinating more frequently but can't conclusively state the notion. Does this sound like anything to you, and what do you think i should do to alleviate the symptoms? Many gracious thanks, matt.
Sounds to me like you're getting healthier by the minute, Matt! :-)
Your body is reasserting its own rhythms. Four or five hours sleep at a time is actually ideal -- far better than sixteen hours awake and then eight or nine hours of sleep at a clap, for a multitude of reasons. Briefly, those reasons comprise muscle tone, toxin elimination, neurological balance and mental performance.
Try this for the coming week: If you wake after the four or five hours, spend at least half an hour UP. Have some water, go outside if possible, read a bit, have a tiny snack. The following day, take a nap at the earliest possible opportunity during the day (could be late afternoon if you work a day schedule) and continue this way -- I think you'll find you're more alert during the day and sleep more soundly. The actual hours spent sleeping may decrease as well. You should feel less 'woozy' as you settle into the new schedule.
Ideally, we'd all have a broken sleep schedule with no more than six hours in sleep at one time, with a brief nap or two in the daylight hours. This little measure alone can resolve mental and physical illnesses to an unforeseen extent.
Try it and see if it helps, Matt! I think it will, and I look forward to your results! :-)
Dear Heidi, My husband is A+ but is being treated for inherited hyper-acidosis with the drug Aciphex, so he does not have the low acid stomach normally associated with A's. He has always been a big meat eater and is having a problem adjusting to the vegetarian A diet. I've been weaning him down to chicken and turkey and some seafood, but he wants to know if his acid stomach can handle some other meats as well. Thanks, Anne
Hello, Anne! HCL in the stomach is only one of many factors which determine which animal proteins are OK for type A. With variations for secretor status, A subtype, Rhesus and MN type, most As do beautifully on no red meat at all, and with a preponderance of vegetable proteins with some fish in the diet.
In fact, the type As who are heavy meat eaters usually do find themselves at the doctor's getting a prescription for acid reflux, hyperacidosis and other gastric problem of varying kinds. The actual cause is LOW stomach acid and eating a heavy meat diet! Surprising, isn't it! Counter-intuitive, but true. The A digestive tract rebels at constant high meat intake, and the result is very often a constant burning feeling as the food sits and stews -- which is rather ineptly termed "acid stomach." It's a precursor to more serious complaints, which I'm glad your husband has been spared by his new diet!
I know how difficult it is to give up favorite foods -- but he will greatly benefit from the changes the A diet offers.
I'm curious about this: could you tell me more about the tests the doctor ran, and how s/he established a genetic stomach-acid condition profile for your husband? I'd very much appreciate learning more about this particular situation. Thanks so much, dear! :-)
Hi, Heidi! Sarah in PA here (A+ secretor). This has turned from a quick question into a rambling sort-of-update on a few topics. I apologize for the disorganization, but I don't have the brain-power to tidy it up!
Anyway, I FINALLY remembered to take my basal temperature this morning (at about 11:00--it was a late but fun night). I used an electronic "infants' thermometer" which I expect would have to be rated for axillary use, although I couldn't find the literature to double check that. I took several readings on both sides and found that my left armpit was almost 1 full degree warmer than my right armpit! Does this mean I did something wrong? Anyway, the average of all the temperatures was about 94.8F!!!! No, I didn't transpose the digits! Now that I think about it, I remember trying to use an old-fashioned mercury thermometer to check my basal temperature several years ago, and I thought I must be doing something completely wrong because I couldn't get the mercury to move AT ALL! I guess this explains why!
So, protein and B vitamins, huh? I like KAL nutritional yeast, too, but there are two varieties available at my Whole Foods--"vegetarian support formula" (fortified) and "imported" (unfortified) yeast. Which one are you referring to? Either one works for me, though I have to split the "dose" of the fortified yeast to avoid a niacin flush.
And can you recommend some high-protein snacks? I've been eating extra servings of peanuts every day, but I'd like more variety in my diet. Please keep in mind that I'm still nursing my 11-month-old baby and so can't have much dairy. (And now I seem to be intolerant, too! I had some goat's milk a few weeks ago and got a faceful of REALLY PAINFUL acne as a result. Even 1/2 cup of sheep's yogurt twice a week seems to perpetuate the acne problem, although it doesn't aggravate the baby's eczema.)
I'm also avoiding wheat/semolina/spelt because I think it acted synergistically with dairy to exacerbate the baby's eczema. (And now I notice that I can tell if the fish I ate at X restaurant was dusted with flour before they cooked it because the next day a patch of skin on my arms or legs will ITCH terribly for a while until I moisturize it. Is that weird or what?)
Oh, another thing I just noticed (I've been pretty dense) is that my nose runs like a faucet after I eat oatmeal. I guess I must be sensitive to all gluten, not just wheat. Do I have to avoid oats now, too? But it's not fair! I tried oatmeal for the first time in my life only because oats are highly beneficial, and I discovered that I adore it!
I can't afford to be eliminating all this food--I'm starving again! I had been doing OK in the hypoglycemia department until I visited my parents for a week, and then my appetite disappeared. Not because of them; I think it was a sort of psychological reversion to childhood habits, and I never ate much when I lived at home. But now I have to start over again dealing with nutritional deficits.
I haven't had any energy for weeks now and my blood sugar has been dropping and I'm SOOO depressed and can't make myself exercise, plus the baby is nursing less now and so my hormones are revving up again and my mood goes haywire because of them, too. Help! Sorry I started whining there; I need to eat something now. Thanks for all your help and ideas and your upbeat attitude--it really helps! --Sarah in PA
Hey there, Sarah! Don't worry, sweetie, you're doing a grand job with the babe & all, and really all you need to do to make life more pleasant for yourself is to take a few minutes for a relaxation exercise twice per day. More on that below. Your left armpit temperature can be warmer than the right because of your sleep position -- and very likely it will measure warmer because it's nearer the heart.
I use the fortified KAL, but either is great. High-protein snacks? How about making up a batch of hummus?
Time to prepare: 10 mins!
1 can black-eyed peas, black beans, aduki, whatever's beneficial -- it works with ANY cooked bean
2/3 cup tahini
2/3 cup olive oil
juice of 1 lemon (or 1 1/2 limes)
4 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp sea salt
Put the lemon, olive oil, garlic & sea salt into the food processor and whiz to let the salt start dissolving. Add tahini, whiz it - then the beans, and whizz until smooth.
If it's too dry, add a little more oil and lemon juice. Served sprinkled with paprika and chopped cilantro leaves & a wee squeeze of lemon. Rice crackers (Edwards & Son! the plain brown rice variety) or sliced raw veg for scooping it up. And feel free to adjust the ingredients -- for instance, it can take a load of garlic (10 cloves is tasty, to give you an idea), but I've posted just the mild basic recipe.
I know you are VERY organized with your portions & frequencies, so this is just a suggestion for a quick thing that can sit in the fridge for a few days, and you can snack whenever you like. It contains quite a helping of beneficial fats, which in this case I believe will help your energy and skin.
Remember to keep up with the warm lemon water in the morning, and the quercetin. Are you still taking the Cortiguard? How's that working now?
You never ate much when you lived at home? that got my attention! It sounds like an area you may want to work with. Explore what it meant to you -- for instance, how not eating much was a good idea. How it feels. What it provided for you when you were a child. I'm suggesting it because there are belief patterns connected with that childhood experience which are still operating in you now.
Oatmeal and all the other beneficials will become your friends again -- as soon as your stored stress levels are brought down. This is the "background noise" behind all the other troubles, including the discomfort from the hormonal changes.
For five minutes after the temperature check in the morning and five minutes before you lie down to sleep at night, sit up comfortably in bed or in an easy chair, and do the alternate-nostril breathing exercise with eyes closed. If you feel like going back to sleep after the morning session, that's a good sign - do it! ;-)
I suggest a couple of pillows propped in your lap to support your elbow while doing it. Take a deep, easy breath, and let it out. Take another; block your right nostril with your thumb; exhale; inhale. Block the left nostril with your middle and ring finger; exhale; inhale. Five minutes.
That's your assignment for the week! :-D Report back!! ~~:-D
Dear Heidi First of all still loving my fish eating, I even had my first sashimi and fully enjoyed the experience - by the way can AB's have Fluke? I know I can't have Yellowtail so in a sashimi platter i am left with Mackarell, Salmon and Tuna right?
Now my question - Ever since I started having the daily nutritional yeast (LEWIS LABS, couldn't find the KAL), both my boyfriend (A+) and I have been having very bad gas!!!! I googled around on nutritional yeast and found a bunch of information advising that if you experience gas from the yeast discontinue taking it as it may be an indication of having candida overgrowth, in which case yeast in any form (including nutritional and brewers) should be avoided. Now from what I recall in one of your previous columns is that on the contrary nutritional yeast works in helping to eliminate candida? Could the gas just be a sign of detox? Thanks. Martynka (AB+)
Martynka, you've put a smile on my face! Nothing like having a whole new food group to explore as an adult -- and finding out you love it! :-D thanks for giving us that vicarious experience!! :-)
Flukes fall into either the flounder group or the sole group, so I'd say it's a no-go for you. However, a glance down the AB fish list shows a bunch of common sushi OKs & Beneficials: squid, mackerel, red snapper, tuna, salmon, salmon roe, scallop -- and sushi restaurants often have additional varieties such as tuna belly (toro), spanish mackerel (saba), etc. which are also fine for you. Flying fish roe is another one to try -- one of my favorites! ;-)
When you've finished the Lewis Labs batch of nutritional yeast, try finding the KAL again. They had a month or so of no deliveries, so you may have been shopping for it when it was generally out of stock. Go to the nearest Vitamin Shoppe, they'll have it -- it's a regular item even in their smallest stores. Nutritional yeast does not feed candida, according to every trustworthy source I've read, and according to individual reports of clearing up candida while taking it.
The gas can be a good sign that your population is reorganizing, but it shouldn't persist more than two weeks. Once you've got hold of the KAL brand, run a comparison against the Lewis Labs label. Might be something that doesn't agree... do keep me posted!! :-D
Hello! Thank you for answering my blood-spotted egg question a few days ago. I know you are the food questions person, but I am not sure where to direct this question/problem: Today, I have been trying to research several medical topics on this site. I have been referred repeatedly to this site address: www.dadamo.com/ask/IndexADD2.htm Whenever I click on the topics that are further down on the list all I get is a blank page with a notice that Dr. D'Adamo is not accepting any questions at this time and to please ask Dr. Bron. Do I have a computer problem? are the topic links old and have been removed/no longer available? is there perhaps a site problem that until now no one knew about? LM
Hi, LM -- That's an old search form. You're then clicking on Ask Dr. D. questions whose URLs have been changed. For those, try going to Ask Dr. D. and searching direct from that page.
Oh, and a quick suggestion - you might want to use a first name, or at least three initials, so that you can use the search form on this column to find your question later. :-) best wishes!!
Hi Heidi, I am a new BTD user (Type A positive). I don't know my secretor status but would like to find out. How can I do that and what does it mean?
I have been on the "diet" for about 5 weeks now and I must say, I feel better than I have in a long, long time. Before I started the diet I was having terrible pain and stiffness in my right knee. I went to the Dr. and was told I have some kind of displacement of the knee. I guess my knee is not completely in the socket. Well, it didn't help that I was carrying 278 pounds on my 5'7" frame. Since I have been adhereing to the diet for the last 5 weeks, my knee is almost 100% better. I can walk without "favoring" my right leg and I can stand up from a sitting position with little to no pain.
I am still wrestling with what to eat on a day-to-day basis though. I mean, I eat alot of salad and grilled or baked chicken. I have switched from whole wheat bread to Ezekiel bread with soy butter. I am eating salmon and red snapper more frequently and lots of broccoli. My question is, is it ok for me to have like, 2 scrambled eggs, toast and green tea for breakfast? I'm not sure if I should cut eggs out of my diet completely or not. I don't normally eat breakfast but my Dr. said breakfast is the best way to kickstart your metabolism in the morning so I have been forcing myself to eat it. He has also suggested 10 drops of vitamin K oil daily. I complained of being sensitive to being poked or my arms or legs being squeezed. It's like I have no muscle so the slightest touch is very painful. He said it sounds like fibromyalgia. I am taking one packet of Repleniss everyday as well. I can feel my body changing and taking on a new shape and it is so exciting. I am down to 266 pounds right now while averaging a 5 pound weight loss per week. My goal weight is 170 pounds and I hope to hit that by October or so.
Right now I am just walking more than usual but I haven't really started an exercise regime. Do you have any suggestions for that?? I noticed you told another type A to do Yoga in the morning so I will scout the bookstores and see if I can find a book to follow along with. One more thing, my sex drive has decreased significantly since I gained weight and I don't know what to do to get it back. Will the weight loss give me a much needed boost in that area or is there a supplement I should be taking. My husband will thank you forever for any advice you can give in that area.(smile)
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all of our questions and concerns. What would we do without you?????? 266 and counting.......... sandi
Greetings, Sandi! Hey, I'm very happy to hear your progress!! You're doing a beautiful job, just keep sailing along!
On the FAQ page that you went through in order to ask a question here, look near the top. The secretor/nonsecretor information is linked there, and also in the Knowledge Base linked to the right of this page.
It's fine to have eggs & toast in the morning, although I'd suggest using the portion/frequency table for all foods, either from Live Right 4 Your Type or the Type A Food, Beverage and Supplement Lists "little book." Your doctor's absolutely right about having breakfast, and it makes a big difference in weight loss. Another option would be peanut or almond butter on the toast, or a tofu scramble with onion & chives, or any number of different foods -- anything that strikes your fancy. We usually suggest that people desiring weight loss eat their largest meal in the morning, or at least soon after they have a little something of some kind. The largest amount of food taken in should fall in the first part of the day. Then, have a medium-sized lunch, and eat more lightly in the late afternoon and evening.
There are a couple free online guides for exercise I'd like to mention: the first is Marianne Cirone's Yoga for Health and Fitness, and the second is the 5BX (5 Basic Exercise) site. You might do one in the morning and the other in the evening -- they're great complements to each other. There are several beginner's technique pages on the yoga site, and the 5BX takes only a few minutes to do & requires nothing more than space to lie down in. great stuff!
Oh, and good news for your hubby! ;-) Barring other factors, your sex drive will return naturally over time. On a personal note, your feelings will change as *your* pleasure with your own body increases. Hormonally, as your body senses it is healthy enough to support a pregnancy, the urges will creep back in. Funny how that works! ;-) In the meantime, though, look into taking maca root powder -- it's a mineral-rich food that has great enlivening effects. One tablespoon once or twice daily -- www.pennherb.com is a dependable source, and you may find others locally.
Best wishes, Sandi ~ it was a pleasure to hear from you! keep writing!!
Cindi's Feet! Holistic Dentist Notes - and breakfast tips for an AB nonnie!March 2nd, 2001 , by admin
Re Cindi's foot problems. My reaction was why doesn't she try Healix or at least contact them. Conrad
Hey there, Conrad ~~ I'm pretty sure Cindi's aware of Heallix, and that's a good idea. My suggestions were prompted by the belief that she's on kind of a tight budget at the moment, and wanted instant relief. Since Epsom salts & vinegar are a couple of inexpensive things she could find right away at any grocery store, I figured that would be the place to start.
thanks for your note, though -- I'm glad Heallix is getting better known & loved! :-)
Hi Heidi, I just wanted to pass along some information about the dentist question. This is the website of my dentist. His new dentistry techniques are state of the art. check it out: www.tiads.com Let me know what you think. I can't send a link for some reason. Loretta
In response to Nina's request for a holistic dentist in the LA area, I highly recommend Dr. David Villarreal in Woodland Hills (818-716-6722). Roy
Hi Heidi, I have a recommendation for Nina looking for a dentist in LA area to remove amalgam fillings. He changed all of mine before I moved to France almost 3 years ago. His name is Dr. George Schuchard - his address ia 462 North Linden Dr. Suite 437, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 - his phone numver is (310)777-2444. Besides being a great dentist to do the work, he is a very cool guy with a great staff. His office is Feng Shui'd and he has you hold certain gems while doing the work. I literally almost fell asleep as he worked! Beyond that, he still answers my email questions 3 years after seeing him! If you go, tell him Hi from Abby in France...
Thank you SO MUCH for the recommendations, friends!! I'm sure Nina appreciates your help!! :-D
Greetings...Just a quick question about how to define a couple dairy products. Is cottage or ricotta cheese considered cheese, or would it be similar to yogurt? As an AB nonnie [of European decent] I get to have 0-4 servings of milk or yogurt, and 0-1 of cheese. Since I have been reduced to 4-6 servings of grains a week, I am trying to find non-grain ways of creating meals, especially breakfast, and cultured dairy is a nice addition. I don't use non-cultured cow's milk anymore, so I guess I'm asking if it would be advisible for me to swap the proportions of some categories around? I am doing well on with using Beneficials in my diet and am getting good results [had a cramp-free first day of my period for the first time in years], and am now trying to become compliant with frequency of consumption. Your input is appreciated...Thanks! Sarah
Hello, Sarah! Wow, I'm so pleased you've seen results right away from the AB nonnie changes! LOVELY!! Good work!!
Yes, both cottage cheese and ricotta are considered cheeses -- the making of ricotta is a bit more involved, but they're both still fresh, soft, light cheeses. I think you could swap them in once or twice a week instead of the milk/yogurt servings without doing harm -- they're closer to plain milk than, say, Jarlsberg, Gouda or cheddar -- see how you do with that.
Other suggestions -- warm lentil soup with greens, or miso soup with additions as you please, makes a marvelous breakfast. Plain turkey stock with nutritional yeast and a few beneficial spices is great in the morning. Eggs poached in a bit of leftover turkey soup or lamb stew?
Or the Scottish dish "kale kenny," which is chopped potatoes, turnips and kale, cooked in broth until the liquid is gone and the vegetables are cooked. It can be molded in ramekins or muffin tins and set aside for reheating. A little poached egg on top for breakfast? tasty!!
You're the only type for whom eggs are Beneficial, which is kind of a neat thing ~ eat 'em! A one-egg omelette, filled with a little onion and cabbage stir-fried in ghee with a few pinches of whole cumin or fennel seed & salt. Simple and excellent "curry." An omelette is license to cook just about anything -- how about a few tablespoons of ricotta and some fresh-grated nutmeg as filling? ;-)
Thanks so much for keeping in touch here, Sarah ~ I hope these ideas help, dear!! and once again, congratulations on your successes!!
Cleansing ~ prostatitis? ~ fizzy stuff ~ foot skin infection ~ mercury amalgam removal ~ recipes & culturing!February 27th, 2001 , by admin
Hello, Heidi!! How are you? How was your trip? I am gald to know that you take time for your self, you deserve it!!! I was reading your site today when I saw a question about Quorn. Because I have no idea what is that I went to the "Search Topics" and typed "QUORN". Then I went to "Type O Round #3" For my surprise I end up in a site that talks about "Trophology". I found that very interesting. The site is: www.hps-online.com. It is not the first time that I heard that, however I have no deep information about it. I surfed more in the site and found out about the 7 days to clean your colon, by fasting...etc. My question is: What do you think about it? Do you think the way that they talk about and sell the "program" is efficient? Do you know how a type O+ can clean the colon or the body the way they show? Do we really have all that "stuff" inside of us? It's GOOD to have you back!! Bcha.
I'm fine, Bcha ~ I hope you're doing well, too! The "trophology" link you found is in reference to the food separation part of that column.
In regard to colon cleansing, the Blood Type Diets do a great job on their own, over time. If you're interested in pursuing a quicker "cleanse," you might try my suggestions here. They're fine for type O secretors. Remember to use plenty of water and fresh vegetable juice -- particularly carrot/celery/beet/greens, and add tomato, sweet red pepper, onion, garlic or other veg to that mix as you like. It will do a nice job of clearing the colon of any old stuff lingering about. A gallbladder flush is a good idea as well.
Enjoy your research, and let me know what you decide! :-)
Dear Heidi I need help for my friend's problem. He is a Blood Grp A. He is in his sixties and he is having problem of not being able to hold his urine back in the mid morning. He has this uncontrollable urge to pee and had to let go immediately he thinks about it. Sometimes it gets so bad that he pee in his pants. He had consulted an urilogist and hve taken medicine but to no avail. He was told that this was a common problem I read that Dr D'Adamo recommended Nettle Root for prostrate problem but was not able to find any in South East Asia. Would nettle leave or Saw Palmetto do the job? Hope you can help. Shirley
Hello, Shirley! Did his urologist say he has benign prostatitis? Has he been checked for prostate cancer? Also, where there is nettle leaf there is nettle root -- this is a weed that grows everywhere. Keep looking and if you have found fresh nettles available, ask that source to get you some nettle root.
If the cause is prostate inflammation, a good anti-inflammatory like Quercetin will help. I can't tell if he has a bladder infection -- if so, cranberry is the best thing to take regularly, but I don't know if it is available to you there. Does he follow the blood type diet? If not, there are many possible irritants and disease-abetting agents in what he is eating every day. That is the first step in any case.
Saw Palmetto is certainly a good idea for him, but it is only one part of the entire picture. He should be getting plenty of water with a squeeze of lemon juice, lots of fresh dark red and blue fruits & berries, and fresh dark green vegetables. Write again and give me more detail, if possible, OK? thanks, Shirley!
Heidi, I know As can't have seltzer or club soda but is sparkling mineral water acceptable? I thought I read somewhere that you said that Gerolsteiner was okay but I thought the bubbly part was the reason that As can't drink seltzer or club soda, since they have low gastrin...Can you please clarify this. Thanks. Maddy
Hi, Maddy! Sparkling mineral water is OK to buy. To make it acceptable for As, just let the bottle go flat. Open it and leave it open until the bubblies have dissipated. :-D
Why is diet soda (i.e. diet Coke) not allowed? I realize it's not good for you, but in small amounts (1/day) is it really bad for your health? Thank you! Julie
Hey there, Julie!
Why is it not allowed? Well, it provides no nutrition, and it contains an abundance of health-harming ingredients.
This is a huge and vastly-researched subject, so I'll just give you a quick start for your own research. Let's begin with aspartame:
This particular quote is from http://www.nspforum.com/faq/index.cgi?read=846 - but if you go to www.alltheweb.com/advanced and search for the phrase "diet soda," and add the qualifiers "aspartame," "disease," "kidney," "liver" you'll come up with a whole lot of reading material.
Go through it all and decide if the diet soda is something you want to put into your body -- in the end, the decision is of course your own. Best wishes, dear! :-D
Heidi, Hello again from Cindi, I have been having the most miserable two weeks of my life. Well, actually, things have been worse, but it sounds good right now to say the worst.....
Anyway, I had a couple blisters from needing new work shoes, I am a waitress, Type O unkown secretor status, Ive been spitting, but results are not back yet. Anyway, after a couple of blister ridden days at work, I developed a rash that I thought similar to poison oak on my right foot, actually on the top of my toes, not the big toe, and it was weepy like poison oak, and it itched and hurt.
Anyhow, I went to the clinic, which is rare for me and the doctor never came withing two feet of me and called it an unidentified infection, prescribed some cream, "Floucinonide Cream" USP, 0.05%, which didnt do a darn thing to help.
Anyway, it spread to my other foot and it hurt so bad, i cried, literally. One night at 3 am i went to the pool and put them in just to stop the burning. So My boss lets me wear some sandal type shoes with cotton socks until it gets better, but now the rash is almost gone and the underside of my toes have these huge blisters from the botton up the sides and it is a yellowish clear sticky liquid that comes out, and the skin is so dry and cracked and still is driving me crazy.
I get to my two days off and it feels better, but then i have to go back to work and put those socks and shoes on and it gets worse again. Any ideas for me to do here. Cindi
Oh, Cindi! What a lousy time you're having!! :-(
Here is what I'd do: morning & night, wash your feet carefully with soap and water, then soak them for ten minutes in very warm water (hot as you can stand) and 1/4 cup of plain, cheap white vinegar or 1/4 cup Epsom salts (in fact I'd do vinegar one day, Epsom salts the next). Rinse and pat very thoroughly dry. The skin needs to breathe and heal, so go barefoot as much as possible. Make sure all socks, stockings, footwear etc. are very clean with no trace of detergent left - wipe out any shoes or sandals thoroughly with plain vinegar. Avoid creams & lotions for now. If the healing/itching is absolutely unbearable, the only emollient to use is a little plain olive oil dabbed on with a cotton ball or piece of gauze. Your feet will have that wonderful "salad dressing" smell, LOL! but they'll get better. ;-) I'm looking forward to hearing your secretor results, and hopefully we'll be able to figure out a better plan for you so that this infection can be cleared up and you can move on! Take care, dear!! :-D
Hi Heidi, Welcome back. Hope you had a wonderful vacation. Did you go someplace sunny with blue skies? Wanted to give you an update on my daughter. The cough is gone. Yeah!! And it decreased significantly after starting her on the Polyflora A. Thank you very much. She truly seems more robust. She wouldn't up the Heallix though. Seems she would rather snort it than drink it. Thank you Heidi for everything. Best, Nina
Rained a little, shined a little, beautiful on all counts! ;-)
That is just spectacular news about your daughter -- HOO-rah!! I'm really pleased the solution to that nasty cough was as simple as PolyFlora plus Heallix. ~:-D
Hi Heidi, I have a question and a recipe. I was flossing and a small piece of tooth, that I suspect now was cracked, came out. It was on one with a filling. Seems the filling was close to the edge of the tooth and the thinness made it susceptible over time to fracture. But good news, there is no decay underneath!! I'm an A nonnie so we are more at risk for cavities so doubly pleased! I have a temporary fill and I am chewing on the left side for the time being. So I figure it is now time to get all of my old amalgam fillings (the 3 of them) taken out and the composite kind put in. Does anyone know a good dentist in the LA area, even down in San Diego, that does this routinely? Also, Heidi do you have any recommendations for what a nonnie should do prior to this kind of procedure? I know that Dr. D (Do you think he would mind being called that? Don't feel comfortable calling him Peter - yet.) recommends antibiotics before invasive dental surgery for nonnies. But would this be considered invasive (ie, bloody)?
Now to the good stuff - the recipe. Caroline (O) asked for some good stir fry mixes. Here goes:
Oriental Stir Fry Sauce Great Over Stir-Fried Veggies and Meat!
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup Ume-Su umeboshi plum brine (see below for source)
2 Tbls. grated fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic crushed
2 Tbls. molasses
2 tsp. Chinese sesame oil
2 Tbls. arrowroot starch
Combine the first 7 ingredients. Place the arrowroot into a bowl; whisk the liquid mixture into it. Set aside, but keep the whisk handy, as you will need to whisk the sauce again just before you pour it into the saute. Add this sauce to a wok, full of vegetables about 2/3 of the way through cooking. Make sure you stir your veggies so that the sauce coats them. Enjoy!!
You can find the Ume-Sue online at: http://www.qualitynaturalfoods.com/shopnew/vinegar.html The ingredients are: yuuki grown Japanese plums (ume), yuuki grown red shiso (perila) leaves and sea salt. Mirin is also a nice addition to stir frys and sweet/sour sauces. Can be found at same website above. Ingredients: sweet rice, rice koji and shochu (distilled from rice sake).
Heidi, the Mirin is made by using a double fermentation and distillation process. Any cause for concern for any of us? Thanks again for your keen mind and eye, and generous spirit. Nina
Hey there! Here's a fact page on mercury amalgam and some tips on supplementation. "Invasive/bloody" wouldn't apply here (more relevant to periodontal work, root canals, tooth-pulling) but if you want to be on the extra-safe side, you could do the course of antibiotics (YUCK, YUCK!! :-() but take PolyFLora at the therapeutic dosage before, during & after the antibiotics. Personally, I'd go with Heallix both taken internally and rinsing three times per day -- before, during & after the dental work.
Here's one helpful resource for finding a good holistic dentist: Mercury Free Dentists - California, USA. A web search with "mercury-free dentist" that must include "california" brought that one up. Also check "holistic dentist," amalgam-free dentist," "mercury removal [must include dentist, californa]. And READERS, please write in if you have a recommendation for a great dentist for Nina! :-)
About mirin -- I don't see a problem using those tiny amounts, and it sounds like a great recipe -- enjoy!! :-D
Interesting discussions coming out of our nonnie list. Here is the latest. If a nonnie wants to cook with flour and grains/starches are such an issue for us, how about if we use pea flour (neutral for all) which is in the veggies category? Or is it like soy flour, which goes into the grains/starches section once it is processed into a flour? As I am writing this I have a sneaking suspicion it is the latter. Many have tried and many have failed. You can't blame us though. I hope it is alright that I have posted your cherry pastry recipe word for word and credited to you in our recipe files for nonnies on Yahoo Groups. Thanks for all of your inspiration and good humor. Nina
{{smile}} Leave it to nonnies to jump right into the pastry side of things! :-)
Here's the skinny on non-grain flours: soy flour is soy. It BE a bean, whether whole or tofu'd or tempeh'd or flour'ed. Green pea flour is fine, yes -- and for portion/frequency purposes it's technically a bean (and member of that maddening ol' Fabaceaea family) rather than a green veg.
Have fun with it all, friends! :-D
Hey Heidi! Seedy B without a question but a comment! About today's (11 june) comment about culturing/fermenting... You state that culturing requires only salt and time, but it should be noted that it actually only requires bacteria (and maybe time). Salt is added to prevent certain bacteria from surviving (in the case of sauerkraut, for example) or for taste (in the case of sour pickles). However, it is not necessary (saltless sauerkraut). And, to answer your question, sauerkraut is considered a condiment my some, thus a cultured condiment. Also, to answer the poster's question, i would surmise that since the bacterial reactions involved in culturing (or yeast reactions of fermenting) convert carbohydrates to various end results (short chain fatty acids, water, carbon dioxide, various other compounds), there is no reason to postulate that the lectins could be "cultured away," though there may be a very mild denaturation of the proteins by the acid content, but i don't imagine this would occur to a very high degree. Just thought i would share as i've done much research about culturing. :^) matt.
Great note, Matt! Thanks for offering your expertise ~ very much appreciated! :-D
UK Nutritional Yeast - Water Systems - Sucanat - Lectin Interactions (the good guys) -- two sons--and much more! :-)February 26th, 2001 , by admin
Hiya ^Heidi^! Two pieces of info and two questions.
Info 1. Someone in the UK asked about nutritional yeast. The brand readily available here is Engevita from Marigold & is in a large maroon couloured tub. it is pure inactive yeast flakes with nothing else, and tastes delicious even on its own! I sometimes mix it with ghee & use it as a spread.
Info 2. Today a lady asked about distilled water and had herself a reverse osmosis filter system which was not getting out all the microbes. Over here there is a company called Fresh Water Filter Company who make a range of fitted filters alleged to filter out 99.99% of bacteria & particles plus the usual suspects of heavy metals, organics etc, while leaving in calcium & the other good minerals. I have no idea of their credentials but they were recommended to me by a practitioner. Their website is www.freshwaterfilter.com, they may be able to point your reader in the direction of a US supplier.
Question 1. I notice sucanat is an an avoid for all but Os as it flocculates serum etc. Looking on their website http://www.wholesomesweeteners.com/manufact/sucanat.htm they say sucanat is just dried sugarcane syrup. It seems odd that sugar (neutral) plus molasses (benficial) could produce such a reaction, but if it is tested it must be true. We do not have sucanat over here, but we have something called rapadura (see this link for a description http://www.celtic-seasalt.com/rapadurasugar.html) which was recommended to me by a BTD practitioner. Does it seem any different to sucanat to you?
Question 2. You have set me thinking. A while back you told someone you hoped they were eating both oats & amaranth as they were both beneficial but for different reasons. So I started wondering: what are the reasons why the 4 A-benefical grains, amaranth, buckwheat, oats & rye are beneficial to A secretors? What is the special property of each? Thanks ^Heidi^. Love & gratitude for all your help. Sarah
Hallo, Sarah -- ta for the tips!
About sucanat -- in this country, that product was originally (before the company was sold) dried cane juice, and the test on serum shows flocculation in As and Bs, and metabolic inhibition for ABs (probably the same for O nonsecretors, as it's avoid for us as well, although no specific reason is given). Sugar plus molasses is a different thing -- that is actually what brown sugar is: white sugar with molasses added. Your rapadura is actually identical to the original sucanat, so I'd expect the serum tests to be identical, but technically it's an unknown. If I wanted sweetness, I'd use vegetable glycerine or a fruit concentrate (or one of the listed, allowed sugar forms according to type), especially if I desired weight loss or was trying to resolve some other health issue.
About the differences in why these various grains are beneficial, we're getting to a place where I'm a very new student. Without overreaching my knowledge or my vocabulary for this area (mighty minimal at the moment), not to mention boring everyone with a real long extrapolation, here's the basic concept {deep breath}: There are beneficial lectins which switch things "on" in the body when they're "off," and others which switch other things "off" when they're "on." Note the scientific term, Things. ;-) These Things might be runaway inflammatory processes, or insulin receptors stuck "shut" with wheat germ agglutinin, or baddies trying to attach to juicy new cells, or baddies trying to float away from old "associations" or stuff that's trying to corral them. (Next lecture: I define and describe "stuff.") Are you lost yet? :-D Each of the grains you mentioned has not one, but many active substances/lectins which do one or more happy acts upon the molecules of your bod, and the action of each particular substance is targeted positionally upon certain molecules in the substance of the cell (of the body, or of baddies) upon which they are acting. Some substances do one thing in the presence of one molecule, and another in the presence of a different (and/or helper) molecule. This is only one of the principles upon which the beneficial status can be understood, and I'm sorry to say I don't have a list of the mechanisms by which those processes are performed by each substance in those grains. Oats are known for reducing cholesterol and possibly blood pressure, but you knew that already. Amaranth has usefulness both in cancer treatment & prevention and in glycemic disorders, depending on where, when, how, with what and on whom it's used. You'll notice that it, along with buckwheat and rye, are great for As and avoids for Bs... that's a clue that blood-group-like antigenic elements are involved. Many beneficials for As are rated as such because they do some sort of boosting-the-immune-response job -- whether making the system more responsive to foreign invaders, or helping to sort the good stuff from the evil.
Unfortunately, that's the short answer (at least the shortest I could come up with). When I'm better schooled in it all, I'm sure I'll have a three-sentence answer ... hope you're still checking in here when I finally reach that point!
;-) thanks, Sarah, great questions! :-D
Heidi, a question about my type A son, Andrew, who is 20, 6'4", 235 lbs. Andrew is a heavyweight wrestler at the University of Virginia and needs to gain another 15 lbs or so - the heavyweights can go up to 285. Andrew has a hard time gaining weight - he burns it so fast, although he has a lot of muscle, and of course the diet regimen provided by the school focuses on red meat, etc. Andrew has even been tempted (over our strenuous objections) to try creatine. His summer job requires a lot of walking, and the routine at school is 2 hours of weightlifting (which he will continue through the summer)and two hours of wrestling practice daily, which burns calories fast. Do you have some advice on a diet I can start him on over the summer that would help him to gain (and keep) weight on? With luck he will be so used to it by the start of the school year that he can stick to it at the training table. Are there good protein shakes I can make for him? And can you provide some authoritative words about creatine? Thanks for all your help. Kim
Hi there, Kim! That's a nice big boy you've got there! :-)
Peter offered some research findings in his column, Creatine and Type A, of which I'll mention just two, along with his opinion on this practice:
I can't seem to find the weight classes for college wrestling, so I'll just ask: he's 50 pounds under the heavyweight limit. How far is he above the lower limit? Is everything over 200 "heavyweight" in college? If so, I'm not going to ask if he would consider dropping down, since that's a lot of loss in a short period of time. Besides, his coach would probably hate me. :-) If it's only 5 or 10 pounds, it's an option to consider, since three months of the A diet with hard workouts would certainly get rid of any hidden fat while maintaining excellent mass and, most important, good health -- and could sneak him under the mark with even better performance to show for it. All this is OK as long as he doesn't end up struggling to stay at a too-low weight for him.
The kinds of smoothie or protein drinks I suggest for As are based almost always on fresh, whole foods. Fruit smoothies with nut butters, nutritional yeast and molasses -- or tofu and fruit -- or fresh vegetable juice with a bit of flax oil, soaked ground flax, and more nutritional yeast. He can certainly add organic rice or soy protein powder to any of them. Use beneficial and neutral fruits & veg. All kinds of bean dishes, like black bean or black-eyed pea hummus (blend the cooked beans with olive oil, lemon, salt and garlic till it forms a fluffy paste) as well as tempeh (sliced & stir-fried with veg) and nuts & seeds, provide wonderful proteins for As. They're very lucky folks in my opinion, since their metabolisms require far less animal protein to get the results we Os eat steaks for. Adding red meat will toxify him, lowering his stamina and adding fat, not muscle.
Best wishes to you and your son, and I hope this is of some help, dear! :-D
Dear Heidi, seven months ago I asked you about bloating problem and fluctuating of my weight although eating strictly according BTD (O-nonsec)no avoids. I tought that I did not get any answer but I see only now that I did not notice that I could chek an answer by inserting my name(very stupid of me!). So thak you so much!!! sinsce I was not in a position to try your advice (see my other question about chronic Cystitis)Only now I started to try it. I discover already that I do not react good with kamut even though not an avoid. Almonds make my elimination difficult. I also see that the more I eat fish and meet(organic only)the less I bloat and I am back to my normal weight! I I assum that it is because of activation of alkaline fosfatase by eating more meet/fish resulting in a better methabolics. I still have to test the fruits fresh/dry. what if it appears that I do have still some bloating because of fruits, does it mean that I have to avoid fruit? If I look to food lists I see also les portions of fruit for non-secretors! What is the essential reason for that (carbohydrates mybe)?. Thanks a lot! Lisya
Hey there, Lisya! If there are any OK foods which you find you don't do well on, feel free to eliminate them. Kamut does have some gluten in it, which may be the trouble, but any food which troubles you, just set it aside for now. Once you are healed, you'll probably find you can eat them all without difficulty.
Eating more fish and meat is obviously good for you. Balance it with plenty of vegetables, and two or three servings of fruit in the day once you've tested them. We O-nons are recommended to eat more meats, fish, eggs and vegetables than secretors, so I think the fruit category is somewhat reduced to make room for all the rest! There may be a basic metabolic reason: we do better on less sweet foods in general, and the types of sugars found in fruits may be less desirable for us than for secretors and other types. Do keep me posted, Lisya, and I'm pleased you found the answer to your previous question! (next one is below!) :-D
hallo heidi, I am O non-sec. I suffer from chronical urinary tract infection. Six months ago it became realy worse of all times. the doctor gave two weeks of high dosis of treatment(antibiotics). I still was feeling bad. He said I should go on taking medication for three months. You will feel better was the answer. After one month I called him and I explained that I do not see any change and sugested to test my urine, he gave me another madicine with a lower dosis(they call it maintenace dosis). No change! It was a stressful and difficult time. One day I was angry and want back and claimed a good chek of my situation. It appeard that the bacteria were resistent to al medication I was using. After so many months of using antibiotics I am exosted, my skin is full of piples my maigrains came back. Everything I builded up with BTD was reduced to zero (I did not have the encyclopedia yet so I did not use the protocols). Now I am using the suplements recomended on anti bacterial, chronic illnes recovery and detoxification protocols. I am drinking a lot and also using the basis pack 'O'. I feel a bit better with the infection but I am not there yet(I just started). Would you recomend me to take heallix? I do not see my self returning to antibiotics so I must find another way to get better. It is now two months that I stopped with the antibiotics but the eachy pimples keep coming?? I am maigrain free again for the fist time after stopping the antibiotics, so it is great. Do you have any other advice to overcome the infection? Sometimes I get waves of anger that I was poisining my self 6 months for a usless result. Angry that there is so much arogancy, carelesness, and blindness in the medical care.Heidi, I want to thank you and all others, words can not express what I realy feel. Love from Holland, Lisya
Absolutely, do begin taking Heallix and stay away from antibiotic drugs. It will work very well for you. You can drink it, put it on your skin, even douche with it. You'll feel the difference right away, but it will take some time to heal from the effects of the antibiotics. Just feel the improvements, and calmly go along as best you can. :-)
I would eliminate all grains and sweeteners, except for vegetable glycerine, right now. Stick closely to the diet, don't continue to eat anything which gives you a bad reaction right now, and be very gentle with yourself. You know just what to do now, and I'm SO SORRY you were treated with such ignorance. The only thing to do is to accept it as a lesson learned, and hope that someday in future, this blood type paradigm will spread to the point that others will not have to endure what you went through. Take good care, dear! Love to you, too!! :-D
Dear Heidi, I'm looking for as comprehesnive an approach as possible for my son, age 24, who has been plagued with severe, painful digestive or intestinal problems for a number of years. I'd tell you what he "has," medically, if I knew! But he's never been satisfied with his diagnoses. He's had every test under the sun, moon and stars, and these have ruled a few things out rather than come to a conclusion. He's had cramping, pain, apparent inflamation, etc. with the feeling shifting around. He feels as if his stomach is "eating itself." If he allows himself to become hungry, the pain intensifies. He has resorted to stuffing himself with greasy pizza just before bed to make sure there is something in his stomach and he won't get the pain. Not an ideal solution, to say the least! He is an A secretor. He is mostly a vegetarian, but has recently (only in the last year or two) added some chicken. He likes tofu, grains and vegies, but probably doesn't get nearly enough of the vegies. He has a great weakness for sweets--cookies, candy, ice cream. He makes efforts at times to reform, but isn't convinced that it really makes a difference. It probably doesn't, if his reforms are partial and temporary. I've mentioned wild blueberries. But he's run down overall, and I want to give him a suggested regimen that will give him enough boost to create hope, and thus spur him to greater adherence to the regimen! I'll search the encyclopedia, and would also like any suggestions you may have. I know he is not digesting well, as I can tell from his breath--and he is also extremely thin. I know this is just one thing and he needs to build up overall, but I bet he's way low in B12. And probiotics. Any thoughts on the MOST important place for him to start? I say I want a comprehensive program, but really, I also need to prioritize, because it will take some doing to talk him into a fuller assault. I'd like to know the one or two most vital steps he can take, to start off. Thanks SO much for your thoughtful, intelligent, caring column. Cyndi
Hi there, Cyndi! Your son's certainly gone through a lot. Let me say that it's quite typical to get "all the tests" and have them all be inconclusive. Allopathic medicine is like a guy out there looking for buried treasure with a metal detector; even if he's standing right over a leather bag full of diamonds, he ain't gonna find it.
I'll try to explain what I'd suggest to him, but the whole plan would be to (1) remove the dairy and sweets, (2) get vegetables and fruits into him in the most palatable way possible, (3) support the healing of his stomach and gut, which are coming apart under the strains, and (4) reduce his cortisol levels, which are way too high, and are implicated both in his digestive difficulties and his lack of muscle tone.
You'll have to refine all this on the basis of your knowledge of him, but here's what I suggest: get rid of dairy and refined sugar (they are each contributing to the bad digestion, as evidenced by his breath), and start taking PolyFlora-A morning & evening, Methyl12 Plus in the morning, and Cortiguard in the late afternoon. Just do that, and nothing else, for two or three weeks. Next, start having a glass of carrot/celery juice every other day with a tablespoon of ARA6 added, and a fruit smoothie every other day with a tablespoon of nutritional yeast and some nutbutter. It's sweet, salty, tasty and filling -- and it will help his bowels clear toxins rather quickly, and start modulating his glycemic response away from the need for refined sugar and toward an appetite for fruits and sweet vegetables. Then, I'd see about encouraging oatmeal cereal or muffins, buckwheat pancakes, and Ezekial bread as breakfast alternatives, along with blueberries (or some other beneficial fruit). Most As do better if they get a serving of whole grain daily.
If he likes that kind of breakfast, then lunch could be fish or chicken with cooked vegetables, dinner could be a big salad with steamed & raw veg, nuts and tofu, and he could have the smoothie or juice as a snack. He'll be most comfortable with filling protein foods that keep his cravings at bay.
90% of food choice is based on habit. That's the difficult thing to deal with, but if he is willing to give this a good, two month try, I think he'll see excellent results. Please write in and let me know his progress, OK? :-D
Hi, Heidi, I have been following the discussion about cold sores-herpes since I likewise sometimes have outbreaks, especially during the cold winter months or stressful events. Particularly, I was interested in the comment about calcium deficiency. Although I have taken varying levels of calcium over the last 20 years, I have not noticed any correlation between calcium intake and frequency of cold sores. However I have noticed a possible correlation between secretor status and cold sores. In my family, so far I have data to determine, cold sores appear to be a problem only for secretors. However, this is a very small sample, so I would ask you and your readers for their experience as well. Is there a real correlation between secretor status and cold sores? I really appreciate your column and the insights that I get from it. Sincerely, Susan
Many thanks, Susan! That's an interesting point you raise about secretors & cold sores -- anyone out there have a comment? :-D
I'm just thanking you for your continuing advice on cold sore avoidance, Heidi, and I'm continuing to enjoy and learn so much more from your columns. Please pass a message on to Bcha from Brazil who is struggling with shin splints. You grow out of them when you're in your twenties and running backwards is a great help. Thanks so much /Gwyneth/
You're most welcome, Gwyneth! It's really a joy to bring so many people's wit & wisdom together here. :-D
Bladderwrack, supps4kids, successes, challenges and helpful tips!February 25th, 2001 , by admin
Dear Heidi, thanks for your reply regarding my ulcer and endomentriosis. I'd like to ask just a few other things if I may. I've looked for Bladderwrack capsules and the Health Food Shops only do liquid tincture - is this ok to take? Re: Polyflora - O - as I'm based in the UK is there any supplier that will provide this to me in this country? Secretor Status - I looked on your website on how to obtain one - I've done a search but nothing comes on how to get one done in the UK? Will I have to order it from you? I've also done a search for a UK BTD Practitioner - again nothing came up - is this correct? Also Heidi, if you could tell me about the following foods - as I can't eat Potatoes or Corn - is Potatoe Starch and Maize Starch out of the diet - as these are 2 items that are on many foods. I've looked for Quinoa flour, Essene Bread and Canola Oil everywhere - can you suggest where I could get some in the UK? I really appreciate all your help. Thx. Josie.
Hi, Josie! The problem with bladderwrack tinctures is that they don't contain the active stuff (the fucose). That's because fucose isn't soluble in alcohol. If you can find a water-based preparation, that would be effective, but a tincture wouldn't be. Check with www.stacktheme.com for bladderwrack capsules in the UK. They will also help you with the PolyFlora and the secretor test! :-)
There are a number of UK practitioners listed in the Registry -- here's how you find them: Go to the Practitioner Registry search form and type in UK. Now -- very important -- underneath you'll see three pulldown menus. Use the "Search By" menu, and choose "Country" from that menu. Now, all the UK practitioners will come up. Whatever kind of search you're doing, whether it's by city, or name, or country -- choose that selection from the "Search By" pulldown menu.
Yes, potatoes & corn in all their forms, whether flour or starch or whatever, are avoids... sorry about that! :-} The experts on sourcing BTD-compliant foods can be found at http://groups.msn.com/er4ytUK/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-gb -- it's a message board full of very knowledgeable and helpful people! Thanks for writing, Josie!
Dear Heidi, I have a supplement question. At various times, I have tried taking a multivitamin supplement (in the higher range of doses, e.g. at least 30mg for the B vitamins) and after a while of taking them I start to get a really physical jitteriness and anxiousness. I'm quite sure that it comes from the supplements as, as soon as I stop taking them, the reactions stop. I was wondering if you had any idea why this would be occuring- I thought the opposite effect was supposed to happen! I am an O type and probably follow the diet about 70% of the time. Thanks for your help! Caroline
Hi, Caroline ~~ I'd have to see exactly what's in the supps you were taking, and talk about what time you were taking them and what your diet consists of. B vitamins over-energize some people and get in the way of sleep if they take them too late in the day. Feelings of anxiousness, though... that sounds like something is stimulating adrenaline, so again I'd need an ingredient list and an idea of your usual diet in order to help. Please let me know, OK? thanks!! :-D
As a type O I drink a lot of pineapple juice and recently purchased a Trader Joe's brand that has added calcium lactate. My digestive system (already very sensitive) has been acting up recently and I"m wondering if there's a connection with the calcium lactate. Is that like adding milk solids to pineapple juice in which case a no-no for an O like me? PLease help and thanks for your wonderful column. I learn something new every day! Carolyn
Hello, Carolyn ~ It's not a dairy product, but it's not an ideal calcium form for you either (Type As do well with it). Have you tried juicing your own pineapple, fresh? It's like night & day, compared to the bottled juices. In this case, I'd leave that brand alone for a week, and see if your digestive discomforts subside. Substitute blueberry or black cherry juice for a while -- both very alkaline fruits, and soothing for the tummy. :-)
Hey there again! I've given you a nice long break from me-self here in VA. First, about the migrains, come to find out that sleep (too much or not enough) plays a large role in causing them. That's not to say that diet has nothing to do with it, only that sleep has something to do with it. Had a great check-up with the neurologist today (yeah). Maybe backing of some of the headache medicine. Now for my question so you can get on with your life...what's a girl to do if she doesn't have access to good organic foods? Even if I did have access, price might be somewhat of a concern. Oh yeah, just to give everyone out there some hope...I haven't even complied all that well and am back down to what I weighed one year ago. Mind you that's not a huge loss, but considering that I haven't really tried all that hard I can only imagine how it would be if I did! I found the bit that you told about buying more whole foods and doing more of your own preperation and such. I'm just at a quandry as to what to do about the organic thing. Would it be just as well to come as close as you can? For instance buying frozen veggies instead of canned. One blessing is I have family who hunts venison and I'm a B so my freezer full of venison is just great!!! Okay, I blew it again. I promised to keep it short and didn't. But, darn it you're just so nice, caring, and easy to talk to, it's like having yet another friend on line. But I really will let you go. Thanks for helping me out so much. Tell all out there to hang in there. Alicia
Aw, Alicia, what a sweetie! ;-) Congratulations on your neurology visit, and your effortless weight loss! good going!! ;-) Generally speaking, the next best thing to organic produce is fresh local produce, like from a farmer's market, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture group), or from neighbors as the crops come in. Fresh produce is preferable to frozen, but what we really all do is Do Our Best. That's plenty good enough! Just keep an eye out for ways to boost your fresh veg & fruit quotient, and know that you're doing just fine -- your doctor's visit and the mirror are pretty good indicators. :-) thanks for your note, dear! :-D
Hi Heidi, Back with some A-non questions. I'm not sure yet exactly what my treatment will be for the lung cancer, but there is a good chance it will be surgery, or perhaps some chemo and/or radiation as well. Is the surgery protocol for preparation or for recovery? Also, I'm, badly underweight and really need to gain ASAP ---15 pounds would be great, 10 would be satisfactory---but I'm at a loss how to do that with all the foods I'm allergic to. Can't have dairy, egg, soy, gluten, yeast, and don't do great on most non-gluten grains either. And then there is the limitation on fats for my A diet. I get as far as thinking about a smoothie with almond butter, water and berries. I suppose I could add back some maple syrup or molasses to my diet? although generally I have been off sugars of all kinds (except for glycerine, of course!) due to tendency to candida and hypoglycemia. If you have any ideas on this weight thing, I would be EXTREMELY interested to hear them. Also, I have been on the anti-viral protocol (minus the Asian ginseng caps, which I couldn't find)because I keep getting these muscle aches that come and go for several months now, with a couple of colds in between. The Encyclopedia says 2 weeks but I think I saw in a post that you said one week for that protocol? I've been on it for maybe a week and a half (and also have a cold)and still aching! Also, what is the pulmonary support protocol for? On a less pressing topic, you suggested olives in brine to avoid the vinegar/citric acid in some olives, but the TypeBase says all olives are avoid for A-nons. Is this wrong? Bye til next time! Thank you, thank you, thank you! JoanV
Hi, Joan! The surgery protocol should be started two weeks before, and continued two weeks after, the surgery. Yoga and meditation would be great aids to your healing and weight gain, and the smoothie sounds good to me! Your immune system is fighting hard on a number of fronts right now, so it's not surprising your cold is lingering. The pulmonary support protocol is to strengthen the lungs. Olives are indeed an avoid for A-nons. Bless you dear, and keep writing! :-D
Dear Heidi, First off, thanks so much for your answer to my questions regarding the ER4YBaby book. Most helpful! I mentioned then that I was waiting for my secretor test. Well, I got a call from NAP to tell me that I can't get a secretor test because New York state has a law that will not allow these tests to be mailed in from out of state! So what's a New Yorker to do? I do have a friend in New Jersey, but we see each other so seldom, it could be months before I get my test. I saw in your column today that you live in NYC as well--any suggestions as to other ways/places to test my secretor status? Thanks again for the extremely helpful column, Mary
Hello, Mary! Bloody maddening inconvenience, isn't it? :-( If your friend in NJ can receive the test for you and send it to you when she gets it, you can mail it back to the lab direct from your location. We used to have a system of "buddies" who received tests and passed them on to people in New York and Canada, and our friend Françoise Ouellet still performs this service for Canadians, but I haven't anyone to recommend to you for a NY mailing. Just see if your friend can forward it on to you, and if you think it may take too much time, drop me another note and I'll see what I can do. Thanks for writing, Mary! :-D
What multivitamin supplements do you recommand for children? I have a 3-yr-old and a 5-yr-old O positive kids. All those supplements available from the Blood Type Store seem to be for adults. Do you think they'll consider children's chewable supplements? Thanks. Carol
Hi there, Carol! They should be fine on the PolyVites, but I'd give them only one cap daily rather than two twice per day. I think chewables are a fantastic idea! Mention it to NAP by email! firstname.lastname@example.com They may know of something similar to recommend, or they may have something like this in the works. Hope all's well with you, dear! :-D
Aloha Heidi, My dry hands are looking good, thanks to you. Still adding a squeeze of lemon to my 75oz. a day, but after reading the past few posts, it sounds like I can continue adding sea salt. I thought it was only for a couple of weeks so I stopped. I was taking a "B complex" from rice once a week and I now am taking one a day. Seems to be helping. One cup of green tea first thing in the morning, before my thermos (24oz.) of coffee. It's Coconut cream flavored, Yum Yum. I am planning to stop for at least a month for my tinnitus, but I feel the need to finish the flavored coffee.:-) I, like Philcan, have tried almost all the natural theropies on the www.ata.org web sight and others, tring to heal this tinnitus. I tried Black Cohosh for two weeks with no results(probably not enough time). I don't plan to have this for 10 years, because I will keep tring until I find a cure. It's been under 3 years for me and I believe this diet is the answer even if it takes years. I spent years messing my body up, so whats a few more years fixing it. My question today is; what about getting a mineral count done to see where I'm at? I couldn't find the test on your page. Is it not available anymore? Can I get an accurate test from a regular doctor(MD)or would you recommend a ND instead. I've never done this test before, so I'm concerned to get it right the first time. I also haven't seen a Doctor in many many years. I feel so much better on this diet I don't think I'll ever need one, fingers crossed. :-) Thanks again for all that you do Heidi and God bless, Carl & Julie
Hey there, Carl! Well, I don't see Mineral Check, either, so they may be developing a new test instead. In the meantime, I'd see an ND or experienced nutritionist for the mineral test. Just call around and ask what you can have done. Some do hair analysis, which is revealing but not as reliable as Acu-Cell analysis (a blood test). It's nice not feeling like a fixture at the doctor's office, eh? Take good care, and blessings to you both! :-D
Thank you Heidi for your quick response to my question on distilled water systems vs. reverse osmosis systems. It is my understanding that both the reverse osmosis system and the distilled water system remove trace minerals, and although spring water does not, the bacteria in many spring waters can be extremely high and can contain the same, if not higher levels than city water. Is it absolutely necessary to have trace minerals in our water? Doesn't the food we eat and the supplements we take contain enough minerals to keep us healthy so that we can drink bacteria free water? I live in the Ft. Lauderdale, Fl area where unfortunately, the city water in most areas contain high levels of bacteria. In the last 6 months I have read numerous articles on the benefits of distilled water including an article from Dr. Mayo from the Mayo clinic who discusses his beliefs on water and its relationship to cancers. He highly recommends distilled water for drinking and cooking. If I am taking the time to buy organic foods and follow this wonderful, blessed diet, I want to make sure I'm drinking and cooking with contaminent free water. But... I don't want to lose minerals that may be as important. See my dilema????? Thank you again for any advice you may have and for your wonderful column that has become so much a part of my day. Anne
Hello, Anne! Well, you're in a difficult situation there. I see no problem with using distilled water for everything except drinking and watering plants (they die). If you go with a distilled water system, I'd seriously look into either getting good spring water delivered (Poland Spring, Great Bear or another national brand with excellent quality control) -- or buying liquid mineral drops to put in your drinking water. They're available at health food stores. A constant intake of distilled water would create an imbalance in your body's electrolyte levels, and does have the effect of reducing the mineral absorption level from your foods. So there are some options for you! Best of health to you, Anne, and I'm sorry you have to deal with such problems!! :-D
A comment in followup to Maddy's question to you concerning iron/ferritin levels: I also get measured in the "Low 12.x" range and often am refused as a blood donor. I found that taking liquid Floradix (mentioned in BTD), one dose of 2 tsp most days (half the recommended amount of two doses per day), will raise my iron/feritin levels enough to donate blood. I'm an A secretor -- that's all I know about my blood specifics -- not quite the same as Maddy's. BTW, I tried eating liver once a week for a month to raise it, and it did NOT work -- still low 12.x readings. I do use the Floradix pills when I'm away from home -- the liquid requires refrigeration and has a short shelf life after opening. Also, several years ago, my doctor recommended another product (SlowFE), a "crude iron preparation" (acc to ER4YT) and it gave me diarrhea almost immediately. I don't have this problem with Floradix, liquid or pills. Thanks for listening. Dorothy
Dorothy, thanks so much for that note! A welcome reminder, and it's good to hear from you! :-D
O child with apnea....herpes & mercury ... thyroid strategies... and the MN typing system!February 24th, 2001 , by admin
URGENT - Need a response ASAP Heidi, I also sent this same message to Dr. Handwerger. But I love to get your input as well. I greatly enjoy your enthusiasm and uplifting spirit.
My 4.5-year-old son (type O positive) has recently been diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea due to enlarged tonsils. The ENT doctor suggested tonsillectomy. As parents, we try to avoid surgeries as much as possible unless the surgeries are absolutely necessary. My son is very skinny with both his weight and height under 5th percentile. He experiences frequent nightmares and night terrors and preschool teacher often complains his temper and attention problems. Only recently after the diagnosis, I'm trying very hard to avoid giving him wheat, corn, potato and dairy products. What's your view on tonsillectomy? Is there any non-surgical approach to his problems such as special diet or supplements for his enlarged tonsils? He is starting kindergarten in fall. If we're going with the surgical approach, we need to schedule the surgery right away in order to get him in before school starts. So ... PLEASE respond ASAP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Carol
Hello, Carol! Well, you've been around the BTD for years, so you have a good handle on what your son would do best on. Truly, he is an O who must closely follow the diet, without exception. His is clearly a case in which wheat, corn, potato and dairy should be eliminated absolutely, and a strict diet of lots of animal protein, beneficial vegetables, eggs, fruit and nuts & oils is the only one for him. Be sure that he gets challenging exercise every day, and that he has the opportunity to spend time doing what he wants to do, daily. This is vitally important for his mental well-being.
He's also in dire need of B vitamins. He should have a fruit smoothie daily, based on black cherries, blueberries, or some other combination of beneficials and/or neutrals, with some nutbutter, a hard-boiled egg, two tablespoons of nutritional yeast (no dairy -- a guaranteed brand is KAL), a tablespoon of flax oil, the contents of three Phytocal-O capsules and two teaspoons of acerola cherry powder in each one.
Most important supplement? I'd order two bottles of Heallix immediately. You'll need distilled water to administer it. He should have it in the morning (before any food) and at night before sleeping. Take a firm hand with this. He needs it in order to save his body organs from surgical excision.
This little guy sounds like a nonsecretor to me. Have you gotten a saliva or blood (Lewis) test for him?
OK, that's a start. I have more to say about the probiotic side of things, but at his age the foods and Heallix should get him on the right path without further supps. Get to work with it, and please keep me posted CONSTANTLY if possible! I'm very concerned to help you all get him through this without surgery. Take care, dear!! :-D
Hi Heidi, I read your column every day and i noticed a few questions on cold sores-herpes and i wanted to share what worked for me.I wanted to share with you how i got the cold sores and how i finally found relief. April of 2000 I had some poor dental work regarding the fitting of a crown. I got herpes in my gums above the crown. I sought help from a holistic dentist and he removed the offending crown and basically redid all my fillings in my mouth over a 3 month period. I got the herpes in my gums every 3 months after and my eyes would water and my ears would hurt and then the cold sores appeared either on my lips or in or around my nose. Everytime i would be stressed or tired the same thing would happen over and over again.
In July of 2002 i read that cold sores-herpes were the signs of severe calcium deficiency. I bought a calcium supplement that was made from food at the health food store. From that day on i have never had a cold sore again. I had them every 3 months for 2 years, so i know this is really working for me. Its been almost a year and havent had any yet. Six weeks ago i had an accident and i couldnt walk for 3 weeks and i thought for sure my body wouldnt be able to stand the stress and i would have gotten the herpes and cold sores, but i didnt. Also i am healing much faster than i should be and i wonder if the calcium i am taking is helping me heal. Maybe this cure won't help everyone, but it sure helped me. I was so greatful to find it that i hope it can help anyone else who suffers like i used to. Thanks Heidi for the time and space to write and i enjoy your column very much!! :-) Arlene AB+
Arlene! Wow! How great to hear from you! Thank you so much for posting this -- there are many interested parties reading it, I can tell you! I'm really pleased you found the resolution to your problem, and grateful you shared it here -- don't be a stranger, OK? blessings, dear!! :-D
Thanks for your column, I read it daily. How can I find out my MM or MN status and what does this mean? Drea
Hi, Drea -- Many specialized labs do this kind of typing, but as I mentioned in recent columns, the SouthWest Medical Center's laboratories in Arizona do them routinely. The MN blood type (three variations: MM, MN and NN) indicate susceptibility to certain cancers, and ability to effectively process fats and cholesterol. The full explanation can be found in the book Live Right 4 Your Type. Thanks for writing, and welcome!! :-D
Dear Heidi, First may I offer a sincere thank you to both you and Karen, for your insights into my dificulties with weight loss, tiredness and withdrawal from grains - it is extremely moving to know that there are people willing to offer help and advice, even though you don't know them, thank you so much. I am on my forteenth day without grain (except for two occassions when I used a little rice flour to thicken a sauce). I am over the 'fifth day hump' that I wrote about and am feeling somewhat better although I know that my energy levels could improve a lot from where I am - don't know how I know, I just know! I really did feel that I was withdrawing/detoxifying from something so it was reassuring to hear from Karen who experienced similar things. However, I also think that I might have a thyroid imbalance, as you suggested Heidi, which may contribute to the tiredness and the fact that my weight is stubbornly refusing to shift (I've lost a pound in the last fortnight, after no weight loss for six weeks).
I pre-empted your advice on thyroid testing, in that after browsing your site I came across the post to someone in Donegal in which you mentioned the temperature test for thyroid imbalance, so did it and found that each morning my temperature was between 97.4 and 97.6 F - on the low side. You also mentioned some supplements that you took, including a glandular from an American store [am I allowed to mention it - Vitamin Shoppe] that does not distribute to the U.K. I would appreciate some advice on what to do, re. supplementation, for as well as being on a low income as previously mentioned, I am a bit anxious about taking a glandular formula because of the scares that we have had here about BSE (mad-cow disease). I don't know which company to trust on this one as none of my local health food shops sells anything with 'glands' (sounds disgusting!) in.
The other thing I am bothered about is whether I will have to take supplements for this indefinitely. Thyroid problems seem to run in my family and a few members are on medication, one for an underactive thyroid and two for overactive. I would really like it if my body could heal itself with a little temporary help.
And..while I'm here, I may as well ask about something else I am bothered about...I cannot abide fish. Absolutely hate the smell, look, taste, everything about it - the most I can manage is tinned tuna, which I eat twice a week. Have tried salmon a couple of times but it makes me want to throw up. I have to trust my body's wisdom (or foolishness?) and accept that fish is not right for me for some reason! My question is, what do I do about protein consumption in light of the fact that I am not getting beneficial fish? Should I eat more meat? I don't like egg either, except disguised in pancakes (which I'm not having anymore because of the grain thing) and vegetable fritters (my poor old mum had a tough old time feeding me when I was a kid!!!)
With regard to protein, in the last week I have consumed beef six times, lamb twice, chicken three times, tinned tuna twice and tinned salmon once (yuk), one egg and one portion of beans. With everything, lots of veggies and some fruit, nuts, linseeds and olive oil every day. Thank you for being so supportive - I am hopeful that I will be able to once again experience the surge in energy I felt after about a fortnight on the diet. It feels like I experience the 'day ticket' to massively improved health, now I have to do the work ;-D Cheers, Rachel (O)
Rachel, I have to say that your beautiful, sunny attitude toward these matters will stand you in good stead. The belief in healing is a powerful influence upon the body. I am quite sure you will find the best road and travel it smilingly toward resolution of everything which is troubling you now. Good on you, dear!
I have two suggestions on the "glandular" front. ;-D First, you might find an acupuncturist who does nutrition therapy. OR who is adept in traditional Chinese medicine. Imported Chinese supplements containing the necessary glandulars may be more confidence-inspiring than generic supps, so look into that avenue. Only one or two visits would be necessary, and many holistic practitioners are quite responsive to patients' budget strictures. Well worth a phone call to acus in your locality.
Second, let's get cooking! ;-) Organic sweetbreads (pancreas & thymus), liver, kidneys, heart and brain (yep, brain). They'll be certified BSE-free. Raw is better, but cooked is better than none at all. A good butcher who carries organic meats is a must, Rachel. You need him or her to be your best friend, no kidding! One way or the other, we'll make sure your thyroid is supported in its function. Your basal temperature readings are not nearly as low as mine were (95.7-96.2), and I've made a full recovery in short time with the simple cheapo generic supp. This morning, for instance, I was at 98.1.
Your aversion to fish may be cultural, learned, a result of inadequate but treatable fat digestion.... or because you're one of those folks whose genetic heritage was entirely inland from the get-go! :-) Can't tell from here. Don't sweat the fish (she said colloquially) -- but for the next two weeks, try to load up on the red meat. Don't bother with fowl or fish, but get two solid servings of the red stuff daily. And boost the B vitamins, with nutritional yeast (KAL brand, is it available there? - if not, choose carefully, many contain dairy), and get your calcium.
All right, that's enough from me for now. I don't know about you, but I'm well pleased with that pound that came off! Keep posting, and we'll work this out with help from any & all of the brilliant folks who read here every day. Take care, dear -- we most certainly care about you! and keep smiling!! :-D
Hello Heidi, I am a type B and I need selenium and vitamin E due to mercury toxicity. The vitamin E I use (and have used for several years, from dr Donsbach) is made from wheat germ oil. Wheat germ oil is an avoid for me - does this mean that I should not take this supplement? If not - are there other vitamin E-supplements that are not made from wheat germ oil? To the woman hus suffered from depression: Dr Bach flower remedies are wonderful! The best thing is to consult a Bach therapist so you get the right flowers for you - there are different flowers for different types of depression.And the flower remedies does not interfere with other medicines you may take, just wait for 5 minutes. Heidi, thanks a lot for your help. Anita
Thanks for that note on flower essences, Anita!
Yes, I would definitely say that Bs should avoid wheat germ oil. Vitamin E is present in many, many foods. I suggest asking at your local HFS or supp shop (since brands vary from place to place) for non-wheat vitamin E. I'm sure you'll find a number of brands, since wheat avoidance gains momentum in the alternate health market daily. Best wishes to you, dear, and let me know what you find! :-D
Dear Heidi, I just wanted to drop a quick note to thank you and Maia for the tremendous contribution on the problem of Rosacea. I am a rosacea sufferer - it is really clearing up with the absence of grains, dairy and sugars from my diet - but I had no idea about the brewer's yeast. I presume this has no deleterious affect on candida/yeast problems? I am sure that I am deficient in B vitamins - and so am thrilled with this discovery. Thank you so much and bless you both! Suzanna
Hi, Suzanna ~~ Nutritional yeast has no adverse effect on candida at all. It is NOT live yeast, and not to be confused with the popular name for candidiasis, "yeast infection." I'm very glad you're benefiting from the information from Maia -- quite a gal, ain't she? :-D
Hi Heidi - This is just a note about my last message where I mentioned pomelos. Pomelos is the Afrikaans name for Grapefruit. Sorry for the confusion. I should have said grapefruit and not Pomelos. Eurika
No problem, Eurika! Thanks for letting me know ~~ hey, I learned something about Afrikaans today! many thanks, dear! :-D
Newbies, Experts (yep, that's you, Maia!), News & Views... and a recipe.... :-)February 23rd, 2001 , by admin
Hi Heidi, I'm new to the diet for Type A and have a few questions. What is considered sugar in the raw? Turbinado, Florida Crystals, etc? I use Splenda in my morning cup of coffee, is it ok? String cheese is listed as ok for A's in the book but not on-line. Mozzarella is ok, so is string ok? What about the Mexican cheeses like Queso Blanco, Queso Quesadilla? Is a secretor test all that is needed if you know that you are a Type A+ and what excactly does the + mean? My hubby is an A-, so it will make it easier for us to follow the diet. We find it impossible to eat out because of any kind of pepper being a NO on the diet and any restaurant uses black pepper in their seasoning. We are also having difficulty in findingacceptable cereals for the diet. On the ingredients of Kasha cereal, wheat is listed. If we eat the corn or rice cereals, we get almost no fiber. If we buy or sprout our own wheat berries would they be acceptable for making bread, etc.? Would organic brown rice vinegar in small quanities be acceptable. Being new to this diet I'm sure I will have lot's more questions that I will post now and then. Your column is something I look forward to each day, you're a great help to all of us trying to eat the way our bodies were mean't to according to Dr. D'Adamo's testing. Thanks a bunch! Deb
Hi, Deb! Welcome!! If your string cheese contains only OK ingredients according to your food list, it's fine for you. That goes for every cheese you encounter, unless its type is listed by name in the A food list.
All regular white or brown sugar is neutral for you, and "sugar in the raw" is an advertising phrase for turbinado sugar. Sucanat is an avoid. For Splenda, go to the bottom of this page -- enter splenda in the search box -- and you'll come up with the columns written on that one. I don't recommend splenda for anyone!
The + and - are Rhesus types. That info's in your book. Also, check out the TYPEbase 4 database in the middle of the homepage (www.dadamo.com). You can enter any one-word food item's name, and get the latest values that way! :-)
There is plenty of fiber in whole grain cereals like whole oats, and adding a tablespoon of fresh-ground flaxseed to your cereal in the morning will provide a bunch of fiber -- along with all the vegetables, beans and seeds/nuts in the A diet.
Sprouted wheat is fine, but home-baking bread from sprouted grains is a little uncertain as to the product! ;-) Whole spelt, rye, and kamut are definitely great bread flours! Whole wheat is a type A avoid... again, take a peek at TYPEbase 4. ;-) Then, use that database to search for vinegar. Rice vinegar is listed along with others.
Hope this is helpful, dear! Enjoy the new diet, and pop in if you've any questions we might help with! :-D
Hi Heidi! An additional note from brewer's yeast research: important also to watch the magnesium intake. I'd been skimping on my pumpkin seeds, a great source of magnesium. Apparently vitamin B6 needs magnesium as a co-factor for most of what it does in the body. Magnesium is a very common deficiency -- and here's the exciting part, magnesium deficiency results in higher than normal histamine levels. Which would likely make allergies, asthma, rosacea & any inflammation worse, (and also ulcers I think, because I think I remember reading about a connection between ulcers & allergies/histimine levels in the Encyclopedia. But I can't remember where.) Important for heart palpitations too. (o:!! Maia
Thanks, Maia! That's something I like about KAL nutritional yeast ~ it contains magnesium as well. Stay bright & shiny, dear!! :-D
Hi Heidi, I have been good on my nonsecretor diet for about a month now and I surprisingly made it through my period without craving and eating a chocolate bar. ( I even have some left in the house - and I didn't even eat one !!) It was surprising because with eating everything I was supposed to I didn't even have a strong craving, only a thought every once in a while, which I solved by eating a few figs and walnuts. Once I made a pan of brownies substituting all o.k. ingredients. I only ate a couple and put the rest in the freezer. The great thing is that my period came and went painlessly and I didn't miss a day of working out in the gym because of it. I am usually down for a couple of days during my period. So chalk up another plus for the diet. Do you know what beet sugar is?? I have seen it as an ingredient in a couple of things lately and if it is what it sounds like it is, then it should be beneficial for me . Could it be true??? Thanks. Suzanna B nonsecretor
Hey there! Congratulations on the pain-free, energetic cycle!!! :-D
Beet sugar (get ready for this one) comes from sugar beets. LOL! Isn't that all you wanted to know? :-D
OK, well, sugar beets are distinct from red beets (or "beetroot"), the item that is beneficial for you. Sugar beets are grown only to make sugar from. We have no rating for that plant, but if you'd like to read more, here's a page All About Sugar Beets with a tiny picture showing the complete plant for comparison. They are a member of the Chenopodiaceae (or 'goosefoot') family, along with beetroot, mangel, chard and pigweed. I doubt there's much to choose between cane sugar and beet sugar, since processing involves removing every vestige of the plant save the concentrated sucrose -- so in sum, I'd call it neutral for all types for whom white sugar is neutral. :-) good question, dear! and keep enjoying your new all-the-month freedom!! :-D
You asked if anyone had more information about the potato/pregnant women item. The research did not say it was ONLY potatoes and it wasn't referring to the potato itself...it's those blemishes or scarring that was the problem. They said any vegetable with that sort of tissue damage shouldn't be eaten and that they should peel the scar tissue away completely before preparing/cooking/eating the vegetable. Reigan
Hmmmm..... So it is the scarred area which is somehow connected to diabetes? Thanks for that, Reigan -- and anyone else with more info, please post away!! :-D
Dear Heidi, Thanks to your advice, I am starting to notice the difference with my health, my dry eyes are improving alot more, my skin looks a bit better (I'm prone to pimples, especially on my back)and my energy has improved, although I'm not fully there yet, but these small improvements are exciting. I always thought that my pimples were caused from eating to much fat, but when i did start to cut out the fat they didn't improve much, so could it be that too many grains would cause pimples.
I was just wondering if dried meats(jerky)and dried fruits and fruit leathers lose their nutritional value when dried. And are 'sulfured' fruits ok, I'm guesssing they're not. I suggest for anyone looking for different snacks to eat, particularly non-secretors, should buy a food dehydrator, I just bought one and can't wait to get stuck into it. I noticed days ago you mentioned that occassionally you make a kamut pastry with cherry filling, this sounds nice, could you please tell me the recipe for this. Thanks in advance. Chantelle
Oh yes, too many (or the wrong) grains can clog you up right fast. Good fats won't disturb your skin -- it is the transfats in fried foods and hydrogenated oils, avoid oils, etc., that will give anyone trouble. Good fats are NECESSARY for healthy skin, brain, and eyes!
Meats and fruits dried at home lose only their moisture -- all else remains in that light, portable and storable little package! :-) Sulphuring is to be avoided -- always check any commercial dried products for sulphurs. A home dehydrator is a SUPERB IDEA FOR EVERYONE!! Sliced dried foods go perfectly into a freezer bag, and freeze without event (a good thing to know if that's your preferred storage space). They also thaw in seconds -- rehydrate with pure water, or eat as-is.
My cherry pastry? Sure, I'd be glad to tell you. As a side note, I can say that I'm a decent cook. I can make a tasty, nutritious and BTD-compliant meal for anyone and everyone, simple or fancy as the case requires -- but I sweat and strain over it. However, for some neurological reason, I'm a whiz at pastry, cookies, cakes, all the delicate sugary stuff. My mom noticed this very early in my life, and set me to baking as a youngster. I should now say, "AIN'T IT A SHAME I'M AN O NON, OF ALL THINGS???" except that it occurred to me that I am in a peculiarly privileged position to sort these particular matters for all comers. Folks, if I can eat it, you can eat it, and I know the tricks & tweaks to make it all come true for you rara avis Bs and ABs, too. That part is simple. All we need to recall is the portion/frequency guidelines and "eat pastry responsibly!!" LOL!! ~:-D
Down to business. This is essentially one kamut pie crust , which I place on a cookie sheet. The 1 & 1/2 cups or so of the fresh or frozen fruit of your choice (no extra liquid, just the fruit -- at room temp) should first be tossed with a drizzled tablespoon of vegetable glycerine and a tablespoon of lemon juice. Then, cover only one half of the pastry with the fruit, leaving a 1-inch margin on the outside. REALLY cover it -- no dough visible between the fruit bits, and a double layer is fine if you're working with very finely sliced soft fruit like peaches, ripe pears, bananas or ripe plums. Cluster berries closely together, make a mat of them. Fold the other half of the pastry over the fruit side, and seal & crimp the edges. Glaze as noted in the recipe, and prick the top in several places with a fork. Bake for... oh, half an hour or so at 375-400 F, just till the crust is beautiful. (How's that for a technical term? It's hard for me to recall exact measurements and times, I'm one of those annoying "until it looks/feels/tastes right" people... :-}) Don't let it burn at all. You're not looking to cook the filling, just the crust -- when the crust is done, the filling is done.
For those of us following Ayurvedic practice of no-cooked-fruit-at-all, just make 1/2 the pastry recipe, bake in a small glass or ceramic baking dish, tart or quiche plate or ramekin (whatever shape you wish, but something that will produce a turned-up edge for you) for 20 minutes (once again, just until beautiful), then remove and dress with the fruit and any other B or N toppings you'd like.
And you Bs & ABs, no I've not forgot ye! Use a mix of 1/2 whole and 1/2 white spelt instead -- all else is as noted above! :-D
Thanks for your message, Chantelle! I hope your wintering there in Oz is pleasant and full of happy new food discoveries!! :-D
Food Qs ~ More on testing ~ Melanoma, Type A ~ and Reader's Notes & QuotesFebruary 22nd, 2001 , by admin
Hello Heidi, This is a response to Amber's message posted on the site 6/20/03 regarding doing the yoga pose "Downward Dog" during her menstrual period to alleviate heavy flow. I am not a yoga teacher, but am fairly sure that this is considered an inverted pose and, in the reading I've done about yoga for women, all inverted poses are advised against during menstruation. Amber, you may want to check with your yoga teacher on this pose. She, or he, might be able to suggest other poses that will help without causing other problems. Have a great day! Kathryn
Good catch, Kathryn ~ thanks! :-)
News reports this week in Australia show that many pregnant women who eat potatoes have babies born with diabetes.It would be interesting to get hold of the report and find out the blood groups of the women who did,and the ones who didn't. I have been on the diet for about 2 years now and my arthritis has gone. Thanks John.
I have heard another variation of that report recently -- Do you recall anything about the Australian articles? Who did the research, for instance?
Anyone else see this, or have a reference for that particular report??
John, thanks for your note -- and I'm THRILLED your arthritis has gone bye-bye! :-D Don't be a stranger, pop in now & again!! :-D
Hi, I'm a type O and I was wondering if pilates would fit in with an O's exercise plan? I find no mention of this exercise for any of the blood types. Thanks, Tina
Pilates is fine for all types. It's not particularly strenuous -- more along the lines of a calisthenic routine using bodyweight or light resistance if done as a floor exercise/stretch without the machine. Enjoy! :-D
I am a type A. I love soy milk but I notice that on the brand that I am using the label states that it has a filler that type A's are supposed to avoid. Could you recommend a product that does not have preservatives and fillers by brand name so that I know what to look for. I have looked at all the labels in my local store and all have preservatives---thanks. "rene"
Most of the major organic brands offer one variety containing only soy, water and salt. Westbrae and Eden are two which come to mind, and there are a few others. They can be found (and ordered online) with a quick web search -- and both are organic, with no preservatives. Talk to the manager at your store, and ask about getting some organic, plain soy milk in there! :-)
Hi, I have bought your books but can't find out if B's can eat Chickpeas - can't see any listing. Can you please help. Thank you, Sarah
Hello, Sarah ~ They're also called "garbanzo beans."
As it says at the bottom of this page, if you ever want to look up a food value, use TYPEbase 3 (linked on www.dadamo.com in the middle of the page). Both chickpea and garbanzo will pop up there. :-)
Good morning Heidi, Thanks for your response regarding my question. I haven't a clue why I forgot to include my blood type but anyway, I am an "O" secretor. The vega testing showed that I should avoid all grains(including amaranth, spelt, millet, etc.) except rice, it also showed that I should avoid corn, all treenuts, all seeds, eggs, sugar, beef, all milk products, turkey, coffee, bananas, tomatoes, yeast, chocolate, MSG (I am allergic to anyway), peanuts, and soy. It indicated that I was OK with pork, potatoes, lentils, fructose, goat's milk products, all other vegetables and fruits.
I have been following the blood type diet for about 2 years now and have never had a better composition than I do now. I am battling some thyroid problems at the moment but for the most part am feeling very good.
I don't like the fact of having to eliminate some items from my diet that are considered highly beneficial if I don't have to and I certainly don't want to be including avoids for type O's back into my diet. The practitioner who did my testing stated that the blood type diet is a very good one however it is very generalized and I should tailor it to meet my own specific vega testing results. What is your opinion on this? It seems that if I do adopt this philosophy, I will be on an even more limited diet in terms of what I can eat. I would appreciate any feedback you could give me on this. Thanks and have a great day! Sara D
Hi, Sara! Thanks for writing again! I would reiterate the note at the top of the June 20 column regarding these tests in general, but I'd also say that since you've paid for the testing, it would do no harm to avoid those foods she's told you to eliminate for now. Give it a good solid try. There are plenty of foods left without resorting to any avoids. Before you do, though, I'd also suggest going in a month or so and getting the test again -- perhaps with a different practitioner. See how the results compare.
I was indeed surprised that your practitioner was able to test for all 90 or so vegetables in the food list, thus coming up with tomatoes as the only vegetable to be avoided. Granted, there are remarkably few avoids among veggies for O secretors, but I didn't expect that she would have been able to test them all.
Your general success with the O diet leads me to believe that you may need only a bit of tweaking here and there on B vitamins, water intake, exercise and portion/frequency control in order to resolve the thyroid difficulties. You might also consider adding the Medical Mediations for thyroid in Meditation as Medicine by Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa and Cameron Stauth. Remarkably powerful practice, and takes only a few minutes per day.
Best wishes, and please do keep me posted! I'd love to hear more, as you go along!! :-D
Dear Heidi, I wrote a few weeks ago about the smell of cancer. I went last week and had a mole biopsied, and sure enough it was stage 1 melanoma. Another kind reader suggested another cause, I think it was diabetes. I am still going to have my blood tested for that, but do you have any suggestions for an A type with melanoma? this is the second time it has been found on me. Also you mentioned you might be able to find a bt diet practitioner in my area? I live near Kansas City, Missouri side. I would love to go to someone knowledgeable in the diet. Thanks so much, Judith
Hello, Judith! OK: There are five protocols found in the Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia under "Cancer, Melanoma." Each protocol has several ingredients. If any of the ingredients are repeated, just take that ingredient according to the protocol with the highest dosage. Read the article carefully. While melanoma is conventionally associated with solar injury to the skin, most melanomas occur on skin not exposed to the sun. There is a well-established theory that one should always have the eyes exposed if going out in the sun -- no sunglasses! -- and of course, avoid burning at all costs.
Also, go to the Minnesota Wellness Directory Cancer Page, and read the whole thing through. Then go back to the top, and make notes on any products or procedures which apply with melanoma or cancer in general. Take special notice of Cansema -- a topical ointment with so-far-spectacular results in melanoma. It comes with a money-back guarantee, so I think it's well worth getting hold of it ASAP.
In the Practitioner Registry on our main page, I found two Missouri docs in St. Louis, one in Monett, and one in Wentzville. Pop over to the Registry and search for "MO" by typing it in, then using the pulldown just below it ("search by")to choose "state."
This doesn't sound like much, but it may be all you need, Judith! I think you're going to be fine!! Keep us posted, and give me your views on the resources I mentioned. Take good care, dear -- I'm thinking of you!! :-D
Dear Heidi, Please give my thanks to Nina for her June 8th note regarding the protein powder. I just read it since my server has been down for over a week! Please add me to her nonnnie list. I had a question for you regarding pepper (the spice, not the vegetable). I know that all pepper is avoid for A and O (except the red for O's). However, I seem to remember reading something several weeks ago on your column regarding fresh ground peppercorns being acceptable. Did I get that right? I haven't used pepper in months, but would include it again if it were okay fresh ground. Thanks again for everything! Phyllis in Dallas (A non)
Hi, Phyllis ~ Nina will see your note! ;-) For your pepper question, see the TYPEbase 3 database linked in the center of the homepage (www.dadamo.com) -- search for the term 'pepper,' and look for the item "Pepper (peppercorn/redflakes). That's the one which applies to the peppercorn, which if fresh-ground has those values -- on the other hand, the item "Pepper (black/white)" refers to the already-ground, commercial tinned or bottled or paper-packed variety. It's avoid for all As and ABs, and neutral for all Bs and Os. :-}
Dear Heidi, I know I'm not you.....but sometimes I almost have to chew off my arm to keep from trying to offer up advice! Anyway, if you don't mind, I have a couple of bits to say to 2 people in today's column:
To Doreen (O nonnie): If you are not already using bio-compatable hormones for HRT, you might see if your doctor could switch you to them. Or call Women's International Pharmacy (an 800 number in Arizona) and ask that they send you a list of doctors in your area who can prescribe things like progesterone and estriol or Tri-Est. Also, it sounds like you are on Synthroid...... Maybe changing to Armour or NaturThroid (both natural forms, not synthetic forms of thyroid) might be better. Also, hate to say it.....but sounds like you may have an issue with mercury toxicity. It's a real pain in the rear to deal with, but if you are eating correctly for a lengthy period of time with no benefit, it may be worth checking in to.
To Craig (O nonnie in England): On the addiction to tea problem.....Try going to one of the good homeopaths in the UK. I studied homeopathy a bit, and sounds like "thuja" might help you - also on the sweets cravings. I'm not a doctor though, so maybe seeing one is better than taking my advice. I'll really try not to do this, Heidi - guess it's just one of those O-type compulsions....... a bientot, Abby (and I understand COMPLETELY if you do not want to print this.....just could not help myself...)
Keep those choppers away from that arm, and offer away!! All readers are ENCOURAGED to post experiences and advice whenever they are moved to do so... that means you, too! much appreciated, dear!! ~:-D
Hi, Heidi : Do you know an American website : www.thehungersite.com? Each e-mail address can go into it and click once to give 1.1 cups of staple food to people in starvation. It also links to 4 similar websites : Animal Rescue site, Rainforest site, Women Health site and Childhealth Site. The same and simple procedure. The clicks will give strength to the sponsor who donate the food etc. Not blood type specific, but bear in mind the less fortunate and extend our friendship. ~ lily ~
I hadn't seen that one ~~ a great blessing. thanks, lily! :-D