It is enormously exciting to me to receive so many questions from you, many of which are highly medical. The number of questions that have come in are quite literally overwhelming and there is no way I can answer all of them, but I will try to do each month those questions that I feel most relevant to the most people. I am sorry I can't give individual advice and suggestions, as would practitioners maybe able to help with specific problems that you have written in about.

1: I have a 14 month boy with allergies to dairy, soya, goat milk, and perhaps sugar and stone fruit.
2: After working as a OR nurse I developed Hep C after being exposed to infected blood.
3: How is Leslie? I was on of the "tribe" in the "To Age or not to Age" doco.
4: Will Leslie be doing any Journey to Freedom Workshops in Ireland?
5: Where can I buy coconut oil, please?
6: Can you confirm that the ketogenic diet is not harmful?
7: Whey protein from Solgar that you recommend comes with a warning that it contains phenylalanine?
8: On the X Factor diet I get that feeling after I have eaten of being hungry within about 10 mins or so.
9: Where can I buy Stevia?
10: I have just started the ketogenic program recommended in the X Factor Diet and as a vegetarian am finding it quite challenging?
11: Are you aware of Elaine Gottschall's book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle"?
12: Is there any advice you could give me on a particular type of diet for my climate?
13: What is the nutritional value of avocados?
14: Why am I always hungry? Like every 2hrs on the dot you could set your watch by it.?
15: I have just bought your book The X Factor Diet. I understand what it says, but how can I get around not liking any veg?
16: I have recently purchased the X Factor Diet and will be following the insulin balanced diet. Where can I find the recipes for this?
17: Thanks so much for Journey to Freedom.
18: I like to grow our own vegetables and fruit and wonder if there is anything I can do to protect them from aviation fuel fallout?
19: Can you please tell me if you can get microfiltered whey powder plain not flavored?
20: I would like to do the X Factor Diet, but I am a vegetarian. My question is - can I eat lentils and beans like kidney,chickpeas, etc? or can you please suggest an alternative?
21: Why do you include snacks in your programs?
22: I have Lupus and have regular quarterly injections of Depot Medrone Steroids. Will the X Factor Diet work for me?
23: I have been doing the ketogenic diet for about a week and I occasionally get lightheaded. You suggest in the book this could be a lack of potassium.
24: I have had a positive experience of taking HRT for 15 years. What advice can you give me now I have decided to stop taking it?
25: All the marathon training books talk about increased carbohydrate intakes on the lead up to the marathon - what should I do?
26: Since starting the X Factor diet 10 days ago I am having to get up during the night at least 3 times to go to the loo.
27: Please could Leslie give me the name/brand of a Wild Yam Cream that does not contain synthetic ingredients. I live in NZ..
28: Where can I buy whey protein in the UK as recommended in The X Factor Diet book. It is difficult to find in its pure form.
29: Some people may not convert or fully utilize Flaxseed oil, and may need to use fish oils as their primary source of Omega 3s.
30: I notice that substances DHEA and something called Pregnenalone? (is that right?) are being offered in supplement brochures.
31: Do you have any suggestions for raising serotonin levels with foods?
32: As I'm running - following a marathon training schedule, should I avoid the carbs like pasta, bread etc?
33: What is your opinion on the Carbohydrate Addicts Diet courtesy of the Hellers?
34: Are baby sweetcorn OK to use, why are eggs OK in this diet when we are constantly told to eat very few, is there any substitute for milk?
35: Do you recommend the protein bars available eg protein diet brand they have 3 grams carbs, 22 protein, I have been following your diet and have lost 8 kilos.
36: Please can you tell me if it is possible to buy Ketosticks by mail order?
37: I am planning to do the X Factor Diet. I live in Paris. I am wondering where I could get some of the products described in the book.
38: I am reading the X Factor Diet, I'm looking at the supplements particularity Chromium, Magnesium and Carnitine.
39: I really like The X Factor Diet, however, I don't eat meat (only fish) and so was particularly interested in whey protein. Is is suitable for vegetarians?
40: I have trouble keeping my ketone levels between trace and small, I'm usually on moderate.
41: Are there plans to rescreen the documentary 'To Age or Not To Age'?

1: I have a 14 month boy with allergies to dairy, Soya, goat milk, and perhaps sugar and stone fruit. He's a small boy 8.5kg but his parents are too, we are at a lost end as to how to approach his allergies. His reaction is an instant rash on his chin and eyes. It doesn't last too long (a few hours) however he seems to constantly have a few spots. He's has always had a healthy diet, is a very healthy looking child and is full of energy. We have had so many mixed opinions on these allergies, such as to cut everything out that causes the rash, and the other extreme is too continue all foods and ignore the symptoms. Any ideas on this little mans diet and well being would be muchly appreciated, it is so hard to find resources as to what to do.

1: I am sorry to hear about the problems that Jayden is having with allergies, it is far more common than you might imagine. I would seriously consider putting him on the Insulin Balance diet (see X Factor Diet) and cutting out completely all forms of sugar including fructose, honey etc. Give him only low glycaemic fruits and see how he tolerates them, things like berries and melons and make sure he gets plenty of protein from fish, chopped up meat (not baby food, prepare the food yourself) as well as masses of low glycaemic carbohydrate vegetables such as broccoli, spinach etc. Watch him very carefully and see how he responds to things. It sounds to me that he build more lean muscle in his body and gain some solid weight. This means good quality protein. I also think it is essential that you find the right practitioner to work with. I am sometimes troubled by the approach that some nutritionists and naturopaths seem to take in treatment. They often ignore the need for protein and this is essential. And certain proteins such as certain fishes, lamb and some of the more unusual proteins like rabbit and venison are very often foods that are well tolerated by people with allergies. Good luck in finding the right person who can help you.

2: After working as a OR nurse I developed Hep C after being exposed to infected blood,although my liver function tests are OK, I feel very lethargic/low in energy-even though I am a A type personality-raising 3 teenagers on my own-what is the best method/food type to give me back my zest (I am only 37 , but feel 87).

2: I think you need a total program designed to rebuild your system. I would really suggest you take a look at the insulin balance way of eating, living, in the X Factor Diet and that you incorporate large quantities of low glycaemic vegetable carbohydrate in your meals such as alfalfa sprouts, broccoli sprouts, bok choy, celery, rocket, onions, broccoli, capsicums, cauliflower, garlic, spring onions, asparagus spears, beetroot tops as well as low glycaemic fruits such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. You are going to need to replace a lot of what has been lost with your illness through the use or vegetables and fruits that are not going to produce a lot of sugars in your bloodstream but are going to supply you with massive amounts of antioxidant, immune enhancing phytochemicals. You are also going to need to rebuild your system with good quality protein. People very often think that to detoxify the body you have to leave protein aside - whilst this does detoxify it can render the body quite weak and it is important that you avoid that. Protein is particularly important after an illness like this.

3: How is Leslie? I was on of the "tribe" in the "To Age or not to Age" doco.

3: I laughed at your question. Leslie is disgustingly well. Despite much abuse, one way or another in recent months, I have basically been on the road for 9 weeks, making a film in the United States and launching the X Factor Diet in the UK and New Zealand, this month I launched the diet in Australia as well. Meanwhile I am working on my book Age Power, which like Passage to Power written a few years ago, I can only describe as a loose baggy monster. In my attempt to discover what aging is all about (an enormous amount of scientific information has accrued over the last 20 years) and put it into a practical form has put me in a situation that I feel I should be writing an encyclopedia of aging rather than a single book. It is sometimes trying to hone down the essence of a subject and can be very challenging when there is so much material to work with. My deadline is early April. If I finish it - at this point I don't know if I will or not so please send prayers - it will be published in the UK in April and in the Southern Hemisphere in October. It just feels good to be able to sit down today and get back to work on it.

4: Will Leslie be doing any Journey to Freedom Workshops in Ireland. I attended the first two a few years ago but the third got canceled and I have never heard anything since.

4: Unfortunately the people in Ireland who were organizing my Journey to Freedom workshops were no longer able to do so, so I've been looking for someone who is able to organize my workshops in Ireland. Once I find the right person I will most definitely be teaching again there.

5: Great success with the X-Factor Diet, Thank you! But where can I buy coconut oil, please?

5: Coconut oil is pretty easy to come by, you can buy it in health food stores often, Rapunzel do a good one, you can also buy it (much cheaper)in stores that sell groceries to prepare Cambodian, Thai and South Pacific foods. Coconut oil - perhaps more accurately called Coconut fat as it is solid at room temperature - tends to be very inexpensive.

6: Boots the chemist in the UK have sent a memo to all branches asking them not to sell ketostix for anything other than diabetic analysis. My sister went into a branch to try to buy some and the chemist told her that what she was doing was 'very dangerous'. He did not ask her anything about her diet, but it obviously alarmed her. Can you confirm that the ketogenic diet is not harmful and will not - as he said - break the body down.

6: Is Ketogenics safe? This is usually the first question asked by anyone unfamiliar with the expanding research into the powers of a diet low in high glycaemic carbohydrates. These include the majority of doctors for whom the work 'ketosis' sets alarm bells ringing. The reason? In medical school all trainee doctors learn about ketosis which develops in type I diabetes, more accurately called ketoacidosis, this condition is very dangerous indeed and can endanger a diabetics' life. But the pathological condition associated with ketoacidosis bears little resemblance to the benign dietary ketosis generated through a state of fasting or low carbohydrate diet. This natural form of ketosis is far from dangerous, it is a powerful and positive metabolic process which takes place when your body switches from using glucose for energy as its primary source from burning stored fat, it even promotes natural detoxification. As I point out in X Factor Diet a ketogenic diet should never be used when pregnant and should not be used by anyone who suffers from liver or kidney disease without your doctors permission. By the way, as far back as the Middle Ages, ketogenic diet was used to treat many illness including childhood epilepsy. It still is used this way. In recent years a very large project in treating childhood epilepsy has been carried out at Stanford University in California. Other medical uses in the ketogenic diet in the past include the treatment of childhood trauma as well as respiratory failure. For further information on this, please refer to the ketogenic diet.

7: In your book the X Factor Diet you mention that artificial sweeteners such as acesulfame-K and aspartame are not particularly safe for long term use, yet the whey protein from Solgar that you recommend comes with a warning that it contains phenylalanine, which is the very ingredient in sweeteners such as aspartame that we are meant to avoid. I have looked for other versions such as the Holland and Barrett whey protein but that has acesulphame-K in, are there any other sources ?

I suggest you try Solgar's Whey to Go in Vanilla flavor.

8: I have started the X Factor diet and feel much more alert. I am not getting the sugar cravings that I used to. However I am starting to get that feeling after I have eaten of being hungry within about 10 mins or so. Does this mean that I am not including enough carbs or too many?

I think you'll find that the insulin balance diet will do very well for you. If you are experiencing cravings that feels you are hungry ten minutes after eating I would look to two possibilities. One, that there is some food that you are eating which your body is rebelling, by this I mean you have some sort of food allergy to something - it is likely to be something that you have a particular craving for - and eliminate it from your diet, then see what happens to the hunger after your meal. The other possibility is that you may have an overgrowth of candida albicans. I would suggest that you get some Pau d' Arco and that you steer clear of any kind of sugar from honey to malt extracts to obvious table sugar.

9: You say that Stevia can be obtained by mail order from Stevita Co. but their website says that they do not supply outside USA. Could you pls suggest where I can buy it?

I have no idea what country you have written from, it is available from most countries of the world, unfortunately 1 1/2 years ago in the UK under pressure from chemical manufacturers who produce the artificial sweeteners the European Union outlawed it, I think this is why you find certain sites on the web who sell Stevia will not export it to the UK. There are genuine ways around this. I would request that all the friends of my website do some research on the web and keep me informed of where you can order Stevia from. It is an absolutely excellent and completely safe substance indeed, the plant is rich in phytonutrients, it has been used in Japan for over 25 years and widely used in their foods, it has been used in Canada for a very long time and it is now legal in the United States to use provided you do not say you are using it as a sweetener but as a herb. Where to get supplies of Stevia is something that will continue to shift,so keep me informed and I will keep everyone else informed as to where you can successfully order it from. This kind of information needs to be gathered by all of us and shared to all of us in an ongoing way.

10: I have just started the ketogenic program recommended in the X Factor Diet and as a vegetarian am finding it quite challenging. Do you agree with using quorn products as long as the carb content is checked? Also I was keen to try a berry smoothie for breakfast, however the 2 scoops required to yield 34g protein also yield 14g carbs if mixed berry flavor whey-to-go is used. What about using 1 scoop 1 egg and 200ml Soya milk?

Sounds like an excellent idea. As far as quorn is concerned try it and see. I would however be a little careful with quorn products if you think there may be any possibility there may be an overgrowth of candida albicans since quorn is made from mushrooms.

11: Are you aware of Elaine Gottschall's book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle"? This book recommends a diet that has so many similarities with that of your new book, except it is aimed at healing people who have ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease , celiac disease, etc. I subscribe to the listserve associated with this diet and am constantly hearing from people whose gut has been healed after many years of suffering. For myself I found that the bleeding stopped after one week on the diet when the medication I was taking had failed to help at all. There are many hundreds that I know of using the diet in countries all over the world. We eat no grains but use almond flour to bake goodies, eat no sugar, but can use honey and I believe some people may use saccharin though I choose not to. Eat no potatoes, kumara or parsnips but can eat pumpkin or squash and all other vegetables and fruit. No processed foods!!! Drink only week tea or coffee etc etc. Since I have been on this diet I am pleased to say I no longer miss sweets but I do keep dried dates on hand and because of the abundance of recipes available from www.uclbs.com and various other SCD sites I have access to recipes to replace everything - even toffee. I feel that my endeavors to follow a healthy diet and eat grains and even the use of metamucil contributed to my gut getting in this condition and I believe if I stick to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet it will continue to heal. The SCD does differ from some of the other similar ones in that although there can be some weight loss it will stabilize and as long as we stick to the SCD "legal" foods we can eat any quantity we wish. Mostly when first coming to this diet people are ill and there is an intro diet for a few days and then we take it easy introducing foods like applesauce, mashed banana, well cooked vegetables and meat that is tolerated by the individual. Yogurt is also recommended but it must be incubated for 24 hours to rid most of the lactose, but that is the ONLY way milk is acceptable. I must read your book, I am sure this diet is the way to go.

Thanks so much for telling me about Elaine Gottschall's book 'Breaking the Vicious Cycle'. I have never seen it before, it is very interesting that it is designed to help people with ulcerative colitis, Crohne's disease and celiac disease. What we've found in the last year of people who are experimenting with the X Factor Diet is that so many of these inflammatory conditions improve automatically when using it. I will pass on your information to a very dear friend of mine who suffers from ulcerative colitis and who will benefit from being able to read the book.

12: It is believed that climate is an important factor of diet. If Paleolithic man (I believe) is only found in the Middle East, I would imagine a different diet would be applicable to me as I'm in Scotland. Is there any advice you could give me on a particular type of diet for my climate.

You are quite right, the Paleolithic man in Scotland ate different foods to the Paleolithic man in the Middle East, however according to Paleoathologists, although the basic food stuffs varied in different places, the basic principles of the way of eating remained the same.

13: Avocados are not in your new book Cook Energy. They are in your 10 Day Clean Up. I know they are high in fat content but I have assumed it is good fat. What is the nutritional value of avocados?

Avocados are a wonderful food source, I was not aware that they are not in Cook Energy, I cannot imagine how that happened since they are a food that I use all the time. Avocado's are rich in the Omega 6 fatty acids.

14: Why am I always hungry? Like every 2hrs on the dot you could set your watch by it.

It is likely that you hunger comes from one of two sources, a craving for carbohydrates as a result of insulin resistance developing in your body, see X Factor Diet. Alternatively you could have an overgrowth of candida albicans, frequently these two exist together in the same body.

15: I do not and have never liked vegetables. Over the years I have used bread/potatoes/pasta etc., to make a meal more 'filling' for me. I have just bought your book The X Factor Diet. I understand what it says, but how can I get around not liking any veg (apart from tomatoes, mushrooms & potatoes). Also, I fall into the Insulin Balance program, but don't want to use the 'Palm method' to sort out quantities of what I need to eat. I worked out that I need 105.6g of protein per day - how can I work out how much of the other food types I need. I have always weighed my food and I am happy to continue.

You may not like vegetables because you are cooking or preparing them in the wrong way. I don't know, everyone is unique, it is virtually impossible to carry out the X Factor Diet without use of low glycaemic vegetables. I suggest you try sautéing your vegetables in a little oil chopped up in garlic and cooking them lightly, you may find that your dislike of vegetables shifts rapidly, many peoples do. Frankly, I would not even bother to weigh your vegetables on the Insulin Balance diet, I would simply eat as many as you feel comfortable with. The palm method is only a guideline, most people find that they can eat a lot more low glycaemic vegetables and thrive on them.

16:I have recently purchased the X Factor Diet and will be following the insulin balanced diet. Where can I find the recipes for this. Is there a cook book available.

You will find recipes for the Insulin Balance diet in the back of the book.

17:Leslie, just a short note to say thanks for caring and for looking out for me.You're just a great person with a tremendous heart.(You're going to have to tell me more about this home-run business,kids etc.) P.s.Leslie,what I need to thank you for more than anything,is for not letting me forget that there is love and compassion in the world.Thanks so much for "Journey..."- it has helped me so much. (But are you sure you don't want that holiday?)

I am very touched by your note and much appreciate it. At the moment I am having difficulty in finding the right people to organize the Journey to Freedom workshops in the countries in the world.

18: We live five miles from an airport and fairly near the flight path. I like to grow our own vegetables and fruit and wonder if there is anything I can do to protect them from aviation fuel fallout?

I think it is important not to become obsessive about pollution. I'm sure that the vegetables and fruits that you grow are enormously healthy despite living near an airport and the flight path. If you have any doubts I suggest that you wash them before eating them, by plunging them into a large basin of water to which you have added a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide.

19:I am currently reading your new X Factor book. Can you please tell me if you can get microfiltered whey powder plain not flavored, so I could put in salads etc and if so who manufactures it. I have ordered some from Solgar but it is all flavored.

You can get filtered micro protein unflavored through suppliers who sell metogenic products. I don't know what country you are writing from but if you look in Leslie Recommends, or if you live in the UK the Nutri Centre in London supply it (see Resources). I believe the product is called Biopure.

20: I would like to do the X Factor Diet, but I am a vegetarian. My question is - can I eat lentils and beans like kidney,chickpeas, etc? or can you please suggest an alternative?

Being a vegetarian on the X Factor Diet is not the easiest in the world, however it can be done. You need to take into the carbohydrate count whatever foods you are using and make good use of microfiltered whey which has the highest biological value of any protein in the world, and tofu.

21: Why do you include snacks in your programs? Is there anything wrong with having the snack with breakfast, for instance? I am not used to eating more than three times a day and snacking would seem to be inconvenient as well as encouraging a bad habit.

The reason that snacks are included on the X Factor Program is in order to maintain blood sugar so that one doesn't get insulin surges so that blood sugar drops. However, I would trust your instincts. If you are happy having three meals and day stick to that.

22: I have Lupus and have regular quarterly injections of Depot Medrone Steroids. Will the X Factor Diet work for me? Will I have to adjust it because of the medication? Most Lupus patients are on steroids resulting in tremendous weight gain, so your help would be fantastic.

You are one of the pioneers in the X Factor Diet. I do not know that answer to your question. What we've found is that people with inflammatory conditions of various kinds often report that they have been alleviated by shifting the way they eat away from high glycaemic carbohydrate foods such as things made with flour, avoiding sugar altogether and increasing dramatically the levels of fresh low glycaemic vegetables. I would work closely with your doctor on this and find out. Do let me know.

23:: I have been doing the ketogenic diet for about a week and I occasionally get lightheaded. You suggest in the book this could be a lack of potassium. I thought keeping the Pot/Sod balance was very important what's my best plan, eat bananas & avocados?

I think it is important that you get plenty of low glycaemic vegetables and fruit too providing that it fits within your own individual levels of carbohydrate that enables you to remain in ketosis. Remember that the ketogenic program in the X Factor Diet is useful only to get you to the point at which your body if you're female is under 35 % fat or if you are male under 22 % fat at which time you can shift over to the insulin balance diet and continue to shed excess fat from your body whilst continuing to enhance your overall health until you come to the point where your weight stabilizes to whatever is normal to you, at which point insulin balance becomes guidelines for an excellent way of eating and living for life. Make sure you get enough fresh vegetables, rich in potassium and yes by all means use avocados, bananas I would stay away from they are far too high on the glycaemic index.

24:: I have had a positive experience of taking HRT for 15 years. What advice can you give me now I have decided to stop taking it?

If you were happy taking HRT for 15 years, I don't understand why you have decided to stop it. If you have decided to stop it I suggest you read my book Passage to Power, it has much information in it which you may find useful.

25:: I'm on the insulin balance part of the X Factor Diet and am about to start training for my first marathon. All the marathon training books talk about increased carbohydrate intakes on the lead up to the marathon - what should I do?

Yes, I am well aware of the strong belief that in order to have energy we need to have lots of carbohydrates. In the TV Documentary I did earlier this year, we had a top athlete as one of our subjects. This was an enormously fit man of 50 who during the time that we were on the program carried out a large triathlon. He too shared your concern. I made sure he had with him if he needed it some bars made by Twinlabs in the United States (they tend to be available in other countries too) they were as close and you could get to the balance of carbohydrates proteins and fats in the insulin balance diet. He found that his performance on the triathlon was not impeded in the least by having lowered the amount of carbohydrate he had been taking in dramatically. He also reported afterwards that 2 of the participants in the triathlon were themselves doctors who questioned him afterwards about what he had been doing so impressed where they with his performance.

26:: Since starting the X Factor diet 10 days ago I am having to get up during the night at least 3 times to go to the loo. Is this part of the detox process, and if so how long could it last? How do I know if this has become a habit or is still a genuine need?

This often happens when the body is cleansing itself and the X Factor Program is very detoxifying to the body as well as strengthening it. I think this will settle down in time. What I suggest is that you keep the largest amount of the fluids that you take in to early on in the day - say before 6 O Clock in the evening, it would also be helpful if you have your evening meal as early as possible.

27: Please could Leslie give me the name/brand of a Wild Yam Cream that does not contain synthetic ingredients. I live in NZ.

I do not think that Wild Yam creams are helpful. They do not contain progesterone, neither does your body make progesterone out of the diosgenin that is in a Wild Yam cream. That is not to be said that Wild Yam as a plant cannot be enormously useful in increasing women's energy and dealing with many reproductive problems from PMS to menopausal troubles. However, in my opinion it is far better taken as a herb in tincture form or capsule form not as a Wild Yam cream. If on the other hand you are looking for a natural progesterone cream I would suggest you contact Helen Hope at Kohi Health 2000, Eastridge Mall, Capa Road, Michan Bay, Aukland, 09 521 2404. www.health2000.co.nz/cohi. Tell Helen you a friend of my website and that I personally suggest that you contact her.

28: Where can I buy whey protein in the UK as recommended in The X Factor Diet book. It is difficult to find in its pure form.

Nutri Centre - see Resources.

29: You say in The X Factor Diet that some people may not convert or fully utilize Flaxseed oil, and may need to use fish oils as their primary source of Omega 3s. How does one know if they are properly converting flaxseed into EPA & DHA ? Loved the book, even though I have been a fan of your books for many years this is the first diet I can actually stick to.

Thanks so much for your kind remarks about X Factor Diet, I think in terms of finding out whether or not you can actually convert the Omega 3 fatty acids in flaxseed oil to other Omega 3 fatty acids that your body can make excellent use of, it is a question of 'suck it and see' more than anything else. If you find that you feel much better simply by using flaxseed oil, you have higher energy levels and you find that your body's inflammatory processes such as skin eruptions, stomach problems, aches and pains in your joints diminish then I think flaxseed is probably enough. Otherwise you might try using a good quality fish oils. Solgar do one which is called Solgar Omega 700.

30I notice that substances DHEA and something called Pregnenalone? (is that right?) are being offered in supplement brochures. Are these more hormones to overload ourselves with? Who would need them - menopausal women? If they are that good, wouldn't they interfere with one's own endrocrine system and perhaps create an imbalance?

DHEA and Pregnenalone are steroid hormones that like the other steroid hormones testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone are made in your body out of cholesterol. Many people use them as anti-aging supplements. I cover this fully in my forthcoming book Age Power.

31: Do you have any suggestions for raising serotonin levels with foods? I suffer from migraine and its been suggested that unstable serotonin levels might be to blame.

Certain high glycaemic carbohydrates such as wheat and quorn are believed to raise serotonin levels although I would personally not suggest using this method. Many antidepressant drugs work at least in part by raising serotonin levels. The best nutritional supplement I know for doing this is 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). This supplement has been used to treat depression successfully since the body uses this 5-HTP to make serotonin. By providing the body with enough 5-HTP it is believed that many of the benefits of increased seratonin levels in the body such as helping weightloss, preventing migraines, improving sleep quality, reducing anxiety, and decreasing the discomforts of fibremyelgia become possible. You won't find 5-HTP in any foods in any significant degree. It is manufactured from the seeds of an African plant called Griffonia fimplimcifolia. A typical dose of 5-HTP is 100-200 mgs 3 times a day, preferably on an empty stomach.

32: I am very interested in your X Factor Diet as a healthy way of eating. I am not overweight (5ft 7 and weigh 9st 9) but I do run a lot, in fact I am training for the London marathon and really enjoy it. I lost over 2 1/2 stone over a year ago by running and healthy eating. I am also a vegetarian. As a runner I am always told to increase carbs as soon as I can after a run to 'rebuild' my muscles and incorporate carbs such as wholemeal bread, pasta etc into each meal. It has also been suggested that I drink high energy isotonic drinks through long runs. If I don't have sufficient stores will it mean I burn fat when I run long distances and therefore produce lactic acid which will hinder my endurance? So as I'm running - following a marathon training schedule, should I avoid the carbs like pasta, bread etc? I can't get any advice on this anywhere.

I am delighted to hear that you are interested in the X Factor diet as a healthy way of eating for that is exactly what the X Factor diet is all about. The fact that it brings about weight loss is one of the many, many benefits that come to the body when you basically help it normalize the metabolism by providing the body with what it appears to thrive on genetically over our couple of million years of evolution. Do see Question - in relation to carbohydrate and high athletic performance. For the last 20 years we have been virtually brain washed into believing that the only kind of carbohydrate that supplies energy is the high glycaemic carbohydrates, the sugars, the grains etc. this is simply not the case. This high glycaemic carbohydrates eaten over a long period of time tend to produce blood sugar problems and insulin resistance which undermines the body's overall health. You do not need them in order to able to run marathon's successfully. What you do need are masses of the lower glycaemic carbohydrates that are rich in phytonutrients that gives you the antioxidant protection it needs when you are exerting the body. As you are probably aware. Paleolithic man ran enormous distances as a normal part of his day to day life without any pasta, bread or other high glycaemic carbohydrates, but he did eat masses of fresh vegetables and herbs. As far as isotonic drinks are concerned I think the best drink for anyone is just plain, clean water. If you think you need something with you when exercising to very high levels, I suggest you buy one of the 30/40 bars made by Twinlabs. They can provide you with a security blanket as you're making the shift away from masses of high glycaemic carbs to masses of low glycaemic carbs which also provides you with the essential antioxidants that you need as an athlete. I'm sure you're also aware that when stretching your body to the limits you produce far more free radicals than the average person and you need far more antioxidant and nutritional support in terms of minerals as well. Good luck with your marathon, it sounds exciting.

33:What is your opinion on the Carbohydrate addicts diet courtesy of the Hellers?

I am afraid I have not read the carbohydrate addicts diet, I have however heard good things about it.

34: Firstly, baby sweetcorn are not on the carbs list,are they OK to use, secondly why are eggs OK in this diet when we are constantly told to eat very few, and thirdly, is there any substitute for milk as drinking tea/coffee black gives me violent headaches?

Baby sweetcorn is exactly the same as ordinary sweetcorn when it comes to where they lay on the glycaemic index. Eggs have had a bad rap for quite a long time and it's a shame since they contain high levels of sulfur amino acids so important in protecting your body from free radical damage. The concern that people have had about eggs for so long is that contain cholesterol. There was once the belief that your cholesterol levels in your body were primarily regulated by how many foods you ate containing cholesterol, this in no longer the case (although old beliefs die hard). Cholesterol levels in the body are much more determined by how much junk fat and sugar you consume. You may not like this but as far as your coffee/black tea is concerned, you can look for a Soya milk that does not contain malt and will therefore not raise your glycaemic index but quite frankly I would be inclined to just give up altogether drinking tea or coffee.

35: Do you recommend the protein bars available eg protein diet brand they have 3 grams carbs, 22 protein, I have been following your diet and have lost 8 kilos.

I don't know quite what to say about the low carbohydrate protein bars available. In small quantities I think they are fine, but my own personal experience with them has been is that they are very dense and tend to produce constipation. I've never discussed this at length with more than a few people so this maybe something that happens to be characteristic simply to a small number of us, but I think they need to be used in a support way, not as a daily diet.

36: Please can you tell me if it is possible to buy Ketosticks by mail order? My local Boots offered a lecture on the dangers of this method of dieting. I had no desire to negotiate but I do want some ketosticks to aid my X Factor regime. Please advise.

I suggest you try another chemist and if asked say you suffer from diabetes. You may be able to order them over the web as well, try searching using Google.com.

37:I am planning to do the X Factor Diet. I live in Paris. I am wondering where I could get some of the products described in the book: microfiltered whey protein powder, whey protein isolate powder, flax seed oil, stevia, Splenda, etc. You mention page 68 that "there is a lot of junk on the market" so I would appreciate if you could give me a reliable brand, name, product or shop even.

I'm afraid I can't tell you exactly where to get the products you talk about. Stevia is no longer available in the European Union and needs to be ordered abroad, see Q -. Splenda, if not already on the market in France is likely to be in the next few months. Flaxeed oil is I believe readily available in good health food stores, make sure you only buy oil that is kept under refrigeration and refrigerate it at home, never heat flaxeed oil by the way. Whey Protein isolate you can get it at gyms or health food stores, or you can order by post from the Nutri Centre in the UK - see Resources.

38:: I am reading the X Factor Diet, I'm looking at the supplements particularity Chromium, Magnesium and Carnitine. Should the dozes be spread over the day or all taken at once. Are they best taken with or without food?

Chromium supplements are best with meals 2 or 3 times a day, magnesium similarly, but is particularity useful taken at night because it does encourage sleep. Carnitine are best taken on an empty stomach.

39: I really like The X Factor Diet, however, I don't eat meat (only fish) and so was particularly interested in whey protein. I have tried Whey To Go by Solgar, but it is not suitable for vegetarian. Are there any whey protein products available that are suitable for vegetarians or people like me who prefer not to eat meat? Fish and tofu all the time can get quite dull.

I am delighted to hear you have taken up eating fish which is an excellent source of protein. I can't imagine why Whey to Go by Solgar is not suitable for vegetarians. It is to my knowledge a vegetarian product made from milk. You might try BioPure see Q -.

40: I've been on the Ketogenic diet for about ten days - I've lost a whopping 6.5kg! I'm thrilled, it's the first time I've lost weight EVER on a diet. My one concern is - I have trouble keeping my ketone levels between trace and small, I'm usually on moderate, I find I'm constantly bumping up my carb levels to bring it down - around 40g per day. I'm not doing any extra exercise, just normal daily routine. Is this normal? Could this just by my weight loss threshold? And lastly, could it do me any harm? I feel great!

I'm delighted to hear your news. It is very important you establish you own level of carbohydrate at which you continue to burn fat and you may need to add more low glycaemic vegetables and fruits to what you are eating now to be able to do this. What you might like to do is make sure that you add more low glycaemic veg and fruit and begin a simple exercise program even if it's only walking 30 minutes a day. Everyone's weightloss threshold on ketogenics differs. You appear to be one of the lucky ones who are able to eat quite a lot of carbohydrate and still loose weight. Remember that as soon as you get below the 35 % fat level in your body it is time to switch over to the insulin balance which is a healthy long-term way of life. You will continue to lose weight until your body stabilizes at whatever is normal for it.

41:: Are there plans to rescreen the documentary 'To Age or Not To Age'?

I'm not aware of plans to rescreen the documentary To Age or Not T Age, I understand however, that if you want to order a copy that this can be done by contacting Carthew at Gibson Group Ltd, PO Box 6185, 119 Taranaki Street, Wellington, New Zealand. 64 4 3847789. I do not know what the nominal charge is for them to send you the video but you can find out direct from Carthew.