What’s Your Type?

What’s Your Type?

Not the man-type who would make all of your dreams come true, but your blood type. The Blood Type Diet which started in 1996 by Dr. Peter D’Adamo outlines specific foods that should be consumed and avoided depending on your ABO blood type. Dr. D’Adamo’s research has led him to conclude that an individual’s blood type is “the key that unlocks the door to the mysteries of health, disease, longevity, physical vitality, and emotional strength.” Some blood types recommend a near vegetarian approach, with less meat and significantly more vegetables, while others endorse a diet high in animal protein with specific vegetables and limited grains. Dr. D’Adamo suggests your blood type can:

• Predict susceptibility to certain types of diseases

• Determine how you will react to stress

• Forecast bacterial makeup of the GI tract

Dr. D’Adamo supports the idea of becoming familiar with your blood type, and to use the knowledge about its nature to follow a dietary plan that is biologically compatible for your makeup. He claims eating the wrong types of proteins can cause negative effects on the body including decreasing metabolism, digestive disorders, and various cancers.

While many people have anecdotally had success with improving health conditions with the blood type diet there have been no independent research studies validating the claims. All of the variations of the blood type diet outlined are based on real, whole foods approach to eating. For many people, following any of the diets outlined in the blood type diet would be appropriate for improved health and weight loss as they eliminate processed foods, which is a significant part of the standard American diet that leads to poor health. It is quite probable that eliminating unhealthy foods can attribute to the health benefits gained. While there are seven billion people on the planet, there are likely close to seven billion individualized diets that rather than the four outlined by the blood type diet. The best advantage of the blood type diet is that it can be used as a stepping stone to getting you closer to eating real food, which is beneficial for everyone.

Diet and Exercise Suggestion based on Blood Types

Type A

Largely vegetarian: Vegetables, Tofu, Seafood, Grains, Legumes, Fruit, Turkey, Olive Oil, Soy, Seafood, Vegetables, Pineapple

Avoid: Meat, Dairy, Kidney Beans, Lima Beans, Wheat, Corn 

Exercise: Calming, centering exercises such as yoga and Tai Chi

Type 0

High Protein: Meat, Fish, Vegetables, Fruit, Limited Grains, Beans, Legumes, Kelp, Seafood, Red meat, Kale, Spinach, Broccoli, Olive Oil

Avoid: Wheat, Corn, Lentils, Kidney Beans, Dairy
Exercise: Intense physical exercise such as aerobics, running, and martial arts

Type B

Balanced omnivore: Meat, Dairy, Grains, Fruit, Vegetables, Fish, Seafood, Select beans, Legumes, Greens, Eggs, Venison, Liver, Licorice Tea

Avoid: Chicken, Corn, Lentils, Peanuts, Wheat 

Exercise: Moderate physical exercise with a mental component, such as hiking, cycling, tennis, and swimming

Type AB

Mixed diet: Lamb, Fish, Dairy, Tofu, Beans, Legumes, Grains, Vegetables, Fruit, Tofu, Seafood, Greens, Kelp

Exercise: Calming, centering exercises such as yoga combined with moderate exercise like cycling and tennis

About the author: Daphne is a food passionista, farm girl wanna-be and registered yet unconventional dietitian with a private practice – My Food Coach. She focuses on unprocessed, real food and balancing the diet with your lifestyle. Visit her website at myfoodcoach.tv