What you need to know about the blood type diet

Another fad in the health movement, the blood type diet introduced in the book, ‘Eat Right 4 Your Type,’ gave rise to the idea that foods have a different reaction on the body depending on your blood type.

Authored by Dr. Peter D’Adomo, a naturopathic physician, he pushes the idea that people should eat according to their blood type to reduce risk of certain diseases and improve their health.

While there is little evidence to support the claims, studies in recent years have failed to support nor prove the effectiveness of this diet.

Based on your blood type and other factors, food can be classified as harmful, beneficial or neutral. According to Dr. D’Adomo, foods that are harmful according to your blood type may increase the risk of certain diseases.

To take it even further, spices, condiments and exercises also needed to follow the blood type rule.

This blood type rule saw grocery lists evolve and people fashion their lifestyle to match their blood types.

Although this (blood type diet) has been debunked by several studies, it continues to pop up. And we have put together some of the things you may need to know about the blood type diet.

The book calls for a compliance regimen where foods picked on blood type are based on their molecules and lectins. Set up to be customized to meet every individual’s health needs, the diet is based on the secretor or non-secretor status which is the ability to secrete blood type antigens into fluids found in the body.

It further goes down into food ratios recommended for every group.

Food according to blood type

When it comes to diet, the emphasis is on whole and organic foods while limiting processed foods. To get a better understanding on the recommendations, here are the plans the doctor proposes.

i.Blood type A

Considering they might be susceptible to cancer, diabetes and heart diseases due to their sensitive immune system, the cultivator blood group should follow a fresh organic vegetarian diet.

ii.Blood type AB

A more biologically complex blood type, those who fall under the enigma category tend to have possible risk of anemia, cancer and heart diseases but have much lower infections when it comes to allergies.

Grains should form a large part of their diet together with beans, tofu, dairy, beans and seafood.

Foods they should avoid include kidney beans, corn, chicken and beef, according to Dr D’Adamo.

iii.Blood type B

The nomad blood type have a strong immune system and tolerant digestive system making their bodies adaptable and capable of surviving chronic diseases compared to the other blood types.

They, however, have a higher chance of suffering from autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis.

Their diet should largely comprise plants, some dairy and meat with the exception of pork and chicken. They should also avoid wheat, tomatoes, lentils, corn among other foods. A well-rounded diet and moderate physical exercise should be at the top of their protocol.

iv.Blood type O

The hunter blood type does well with a lean protein diet made up of fish, meat, poultry and certain vegetables and fruits. Dairy, legumes and grains should be restricted as Dr D’Adamo believes gluten among other foods lead to weight gain. For those who have stomach issues and other health problems, the doctor recommends certain supplements to people in this blood group.

Individuals with this blood type tend to have conditions such as allergies, hay fever, asthma and arthritis.

Final word

Although some of those who followed this diet reported improved health, several studies have been carried out confuting the validity of the blood type diet.

Before embarking on this it is vital to consult your doctor, factor in your health conditions and have an active lifestyle to be able to come to your desired results.

Should you choose to do it, the doctor advises against drinking water or any other beverage while eating as this dilutes the natural enzymes and makes it difficult for your body to digest the food.