The blood type diet became popular after the release of book “Eat Right 4 Your Type” by Peter J. D’Adamo. In his book, which is a bestseller, he assures that a healthy diet can be determined by the dieter’s blood type. In other words, D’Adamo recommends a separate eating plan for every blood type.
He claims that the blood type diet helps to lose weight and achieve good health, but most dietitians think that his theory lacks scientific evidence.
How Does Blood Type Diet Work?
D’Adamo’s diet is based on the premise that lectins containing in foods, respond differently to every blood type and they can be incompatible and injurious. Therefore, it is important to eat special foods for each blood type.
In his diet, Peter D’Adamo uses the ABO classification of Jan Jansky and Karl Landsteiner. He also appeals to Lewis antigen system. His theory is also similar to work of the anthropologist and immunochemist William Boyd, described in “Genetics and the Races of Man: An Introduction to Modern Physical Anthropology”.
D’Adamo describes four basic blood types in the following way:
- Blood Group O – This type is the most frequent one. D’Adamo describes it as “the hunter” and recommends persons from this group to eat much protein. It is thought to be the oldest one and as our ancestors with type O survived on a meat-based diet, people with blood type O should follow this eating plan too. The blood type diet for O’s is full of protein and low in carbohydrate. D’Adamo also advises them to do much aerobic exercises.
- Blood Group A – This group is very common too. It is called “the cultivator” or “the agrarian”. D’Adamo believes that it originated from the first days of agriculture when people ate lots of vegetables and grains but were short of meat. Therefore, A’s should become vegetarians who do not eat dairy products. They should also practice calming exercises.
- Blood Group B – This type is rare. Just one man in ten belongs to blood type B that is called “the nomad”. According to D’Adamo’s theory, it evolved due to our ancestors who began to wander having left the farms. They ate multifarious diet consisting of dairy, meat, vegetables, grains, and other foods.
- Blood Group AB – This group, called “the enigma”, is very uncommon too. It is the youngest one. D’Adamo says that it evolved only about one thousand years ago and helped people to transition to our times. It is a mediator between types B and A, so AB’s can eat products suitable for both groups.
What Are the Benefits of Blood Type Diet?
Take into account:
Most dieticians say that the blood type diet is based on the false assumption.
But it can have positive effects, because it recommends eating healthy and natural foods, avoiding alcohol, coffee, chocolate, and takeouts, doing physical exercises and controlling calorie consumption.
Of course, if you follow this plan you will lose weight and feel better, though it is not thanks to blood group combinations.
Are There Any Health Risks?
There is nothing extreme about the blood type diet. It is just one of the ways to make people reduce calorie consumption and start eating healthy. But anyway, you should better consult your doctor before you go on this diet.
What Foods Should Be Eaten and Avoided?
As stated above, Peter D’Adamo says that dieters should choose foods according to their blood types. Here are the short descriptions of Blood Type Diet eating plans for all the groups.
- Blood Type O – The diet for type O persons is high in protein and low in carbohydrate. If you belong to this group, you should eat much chicken, vegetables, beef, turkey, fish, and fruit. You are also allowed limited grains, beans, legumes, and dairy. They must avoid goose, melons, poppy seeds, oranges, avocado, beer, brazil nuts, cauliflower, ketchup, mustard greens, cabbage, black tea, pork, milk, eggplant, corn, coconut, coffee, brussels sprouts, vinegar, and yogurt.
- Blood Type A – A’s should give preference to vegetables, whole grains, fruits, beans, and fish. They may also eat some turkey, dairy, and chicken. The prohibited foods include beef, mayo, pork, wheat bran, potatoes, shellfish, melons, bananas, aged cheeses, cashews, mushrooms, pistachios, kidney beans, beer, lima beans, cabbage, olives, yams, tomatoes, oranges, and black tea.
- Blood Type B – Dieters from group B should eat venison, lamb, fish, rabbit, green vegetables, rice, most fruits, oat meal and dairy. They are allowed turkey and beef too. B’s must avoid wheat, ketchup, pomegranates, poultry, corn, pork, shellfish, olives, American cheese, lentils, pepper, blue cheese, sesame, chic peas, coconut, black beans, tomatoes, avocado, pumpkin, and distilled liquor.
- Blood Type AB – The eating plan for AB’s combines B and A diets. Persons from this group should choose mutton, fish, lamb, eggs, turkey, vegetables, non-fat milk, most beans and nuts, yogurt, most grains and fruits. The prohibited foods include pork, beef, buckwheat, venison, shellfish, kidney, tropical fruits, aged cheeses, poultry, corn, pepper, sesame, sunflower seeds, bell peppers, lima beans, black olives, oranges, black tea, avocado, distilled liquor.
Blood Type Diet Plan
The blood type diet implies eating foods that are appropriate for the dieter’s blood group. Thus, when you decide to go on this diet, first of all, you should figure out your blood type. If you still do not know it, go to your doctor and have a test. After you have determined the blood group, you can just eat the foods from the list of products designated for you type.
You should not forget about physical activity either. If you want to lose weight and have better health you need to practice exercises suited for your type. Of course, you should count calories too.
Sample Blood Type Diet Plans
Below you will find sample menu plans for dieters of all blood types.
Group O Menu
Breakfast
- 1 glass vegetable juice
- 2 toasts with butter
- 1 banana
- Herbal tea
Lunch
- 6 ounces roast beef
- 1 apple
- Spinach salad
- Water
Snack
- Herbal tea
- 1 gluten free cake
Dinner
- Steamed broccoli, lamb stew, sweet potato
- Fresh fruits
- Herbal tea
Group B Menu
Breakfast
- Bran cereal, skim milk, banana
- Fluidizer cocktail
- Grape juice
Lunch
- Sandwich with thin slices of turkey, cheese and bread, mayonnaise or mustard
- Herbal tea
- Green salad
Snack
- Herbal tea
- Yogurt sweetened with fruit juice
Dinner
- Fresh fruits
- Steamed fish and vegetables
- Coffee or herbal tea
Group A Menu
Breakfast
- Oatmeal with maple syrup and soy milk
- Lemon water
- Herbal tea or coffee
- Grapefruit juice
Lunch
- One apple
- Herbal tea
- Greek salad
- One slice sprouted bread
Snack
- 3 plums
- 3 rice cakes and peanut butter
- Water or green tea
Dinner
- Yogurt
- Broccoli, lasagna with tofu
- Herbal tea or coffee
Group AB Menu
Breakfast
- Grapefruit juice
- Lemon water
- 2 slices bread
- Coffee
- Yogurt cheese
Lunch
- Caesar salad
- Rye bread
- 4 ounces turkey
- Herbal tea
- 2 plums
Snack
- Herbal tea
- Tofu cheesecake
Dinner
- Fried vegetables
- Tofu omelette
- Fruit salad
- Coffee without caffeine
Blood Type Diet Success Stories
Stephen Martucci
Stephen’s father died from pancreatic and stomach cancer when he was only fifty years old. Martucci was afraid for his health and realized that he could suffer his dad’s fate. What is more, Stephen was diagnosed with a rare disease – chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, characterized by weakness in arms and legs. The medications did not help and Martucci made the decision to battle CIDP with the help of the blood type diet as his dietician recommended him.
It is unbelievable but due to the type O diet Stephen has managed to restore his damaged myelin and has got much stronger. He has understood that the blood type diet really works and has become a health coach, as he wants to tell his story to the whole world. Stephen Martucci specializes in eating according to the blood group and assures that his clients show awesome results.
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole, who is a famous television personality, once had problems with excessive weight, but now she looks beautiful. How did she manage to do it? Cheryl slimmed down with the help of physical exercises and the blood type diet.
According to information from various glossy magazines, Crow gained several pounds during her vacation. In order to get rid of them, she began doing about two hundred sit-ups per day. What is more, she went on the blood type diet and started eating foods suitable for her blood group.
It was her mother who advised Cheryl to try the blood type diet. This eating plan made a great difference to Cole. She says that thanks to the diet she is full of energy, feels great and stays slim.
Bottom Line
In fact, the blood type diet can help you to lose weight and start feeling better. But you should realize that you can eat healthy despite your blood group. Doctor D’Adamo’s theory has not been scientifically proven and it looks more like a fiction than a fact.
