No two people are alike, so why should their diet be? The Blood Type Diet is a simple concept that tailors a person's diet to their blood type. The general idea is that your blood type will dictate what foods are most efficient to eat and which you should avoid. By following this list of foods, the diet claims that you can have increased energy, lose weight, and prevent getting sick.
If you're interested in a diet based on your blood type, keep reading for more information.
Behind the Blood Type Diet
The theory behind this diet is that your blood type suggests a specific genetic heritage. Studies have shown that some blood types are more susceptible to certain diseases, such as Type O with ulcers.
This diet lays out what you should eat and the best ways to exercise and live for your genetic heritage. Aside from diet and exercise, there is also a heavy suggestion to use supplements depending on your blood type.
Dr. Peter D'Adamo designed it, and he has written two best-selling books on the topic; "Eat Right for Your Type" and "Live Right for Your Type." Through his website, you can find a store of supplements, foods, tools, and books, all tailored to each blood type.
If you want to go a little further with this diet, specialists certified through Dr. D'Adamo can type your blood and walk you through your specialized diet step-by-step.
There are plenty of celebrities who believe in the Blood Type Diet for their success. Such celebrities include Hailey Beiber, Courtney Cox-Arquette, Miranda Kerr, and Demi Moore.
Now that we have covered the blood diet, we'll give a brief overview of each diet based on blood type.
Type O
The Type O diet focuses on a high protein, low carb diet. It recommends eating plenty of lean meats, including fish and poultry. It also suggests pairing this with plenty of vegetables. The recommendation is that Type O's stay away from legumes, dairy, and grains. Type O's are known for having plenty of stomach issues so staying away from grains and dairy, in theory, should help the person feel better.
When it comes to exercise, it is recommended that Type O's pick an aerobic exercise. An hour jog is recommended.
The diet also suggests a collection of supplements that Type O's can use to ease the stomach issues they are known to have.
Type A
Type A looks very much like a vegetarian diet. For the most part, it is suggested they step away from meat entirely and instead go for fruits, vegetables, and legumes. According to Dr. D'Adamo, Type A's have a sensitive immune system. For this reason, he recommends that Type A's eat as many organic and pure foods as they can.
Type A's are known for having higher levels of cortisone in their body, the stress hormone. For this reason, it is recommended that Type A's use a type of calming exercise such as Tai Chi.
Type B
Dr. D'adamo says that B stands for Balance. They are not carnivores like Type O or vegetarians like Type A but sit somewhere in between. Type B should avoid wheat, corn, buckwheat, tomatoes, lentils, sesame seeds, peanuts, and chicken. Most of these foods (aside from chicken) are removed as they are thought to cause fluid retention, fatigue, and hypoglycemia. Chicken is excluded because of the lectin proteins that can cause immune issues and strokes for Type B's.
Staying with the theme of Balance, Type B’s do best with exercise that works both the body and mind. Some recommended exercises are gold, martial arts, and tennis.
Type AB
The AB diet looks like a cross between a Mediterranean diet and a vegetarian. Type ABs are thought to have low stomach acid, so it is recommended that they eat foods that don't add a lot of acids. Among the list of suggested foods are tofu, dairy, seafood, and vegetables. They should also avoid alcohol, caffeine, and cured meats.
Type AB carries similarities with all the other types when it comes to exercise. For them, it is recommended they use a mixed approach to exercise. They can spend a few days in the week doing something aerobic, such as running. On the other days in the week, they can do something calming, like yoga.
Benefits of the Blood Type Diet
Across all blood types, the Blood Type diet heavily recommends whole and organic foods. Even if the science of the Blood Types doesn't add up, that alone will have the average person eating better, feeling better, and potentially losing weight.
Risks of the Blood Type Diet
The only significant risk involved with the Blood Type Diet is that it fails to consider pre-existing medical issues. Say, for example, you have Type A blood with chronically low blood iron. The Blood Type Diet would have you avoiding meats altogether, yet meats are an excellent source of iron.
Pros and Cons of the Blood Type Diet
Pros
- Relatively Simple
- Recommends whole foods that will make you feel better
- No expensive prepacked foods
- No meetings
Cons
- Some blood types have very limited foods to work with.
- Does not consider pre-existing medical conditions.
- Heavily pushes expensive supplements and organic food.
- No real support if you need it.
- Doesn't take tastes into account.
Final Thoughts
There is currently no scientific evidence that supports Dr. D'adamo's claims about the blood types. Despite that, the diets used in the Blood Type Diet all support eating high-quality foods and avoiding sugar, carbs, and overly processed foods. Whether there is truth to the claims, eating that kind of diet will generally produce a positive outcome for the average person.
References
Dr. D'adamo's Website retrieved from https://dadamo.com/
D'adamo Personalized Nutrition Store retrieved from https://www.4yourtype.com/
WebMD The Blood Type Diet retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/diet/a-z/blood-type-diet
