Stress is bad, and it’s bad for everyone; although my body seems to take it especially hard. No matter how well I’m eating or exercising, sleeping, or meditating, if I’m stressed out, things start to fall apart.
Not too long ago I was experiencing an unusually high level of stress, and began searching for alternative coping methods. I know what the standard protocol is, since I’ve read the Eat Right for Your Type Encyclopedia from cover to cover. But because I’m curious and anxious to explore, I wanted to try something new.
St John’s Wort kept popping up on the internet as the best herb for stress, anxiety, and depression. I’d never tried it though, because it’s an explicit “avoid” for blood group O. This is because, as Dr D’Adamo explains in his literature, St John’s Wort acts as a Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. MAO inhibitors are bad news for type O because we already have low levels of MAO. By inhibiting it further with drugs or plants, we actually worsen the problem and completely screw up our neurotransmitter balance. It’s not a problem for blood type A, because their chemical physiology is the opposite in terms of stress — which is why St John’s is actually recommended for them.
Well, I’m naturally a little rebellious, so I decided to try the herb anyway.
Wow… holy disaster!
I can’t call it a placebo effect, because I was actually expecting to feel great after taking it. When my body dove into a dark, depressing pit of anxiety and misery, I knew I should have listened to the good doctor.
I felt so terrible, that nothing seemed hopeful. But I had an idea. First, I tossed the St John’s in the garbage. Then I took a handful of Catechol, the stress supplement created for all blood types, and then got on my bicycle. I hit the foothills and pedaled the daylights out of myself. I was about to die as sweat was dripping off my face, but kept pushing uphill as hard and fast as I could. After I reached the top and regained my breath, I began the descent back down.
Then like a switch, my entire biochemistry flipped back to normal.
I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life — I went from feeling probably the worst I had in years, to feeling like a champion. Everything was suddenly lit up and happy. Optimism returned, and life was great once more. Such a dynamic contrast, that occurred within minutes. I was stunned, and thrilled!
There are a few morals to this story:
1. Peter D’Adamo knows what he’s talking about
2. Catechol is a wonderful, wonderful supplement
3. Exercise and eat right for your blood type to eliminate stress
and
4. Even when in the pit of despair, don’t lose hope, because things will always get better.
This month marks my 6th year on the Blood Type Diet. Each year has been a leap of improved health, reaching levels of strength, energy, peace, and optimism that I never could have foreseen in my younger days.
Though stress is an inevitable part of life, I’m just grateful that Dr D’Adamo has provided so selflessly the knowledge necessary to overcome these difficult challenges of daily strain and turmoil.
I try so tirelessly to spread the word, because life’s too short to not feel great!