You might think to yourself: why do I even need to know my blood type if not for the event of transfusion, or things like that? Well you might be interested to know that your blood type plays a huge role in your health, and sometimes determines how your body would react under different conditions. That’s why we see a huge difference between some people, as many are prone to illnesses which some are simply immune to. All of that, believe it or not, has a lot to do with your blood type. Some people even claim that the diet has saved their lives, and has even helped them overcome chronic illnesses they were battling. Let’s have a better look, and see on just what this diet is based.
What does this diet promise?
Basing the diet solely on your blood type, Peter J. D’Adamo-the inventor of this diet, promises to help you shred the extra weight and get much healthier. He provides meal plans for each blood type separately and strongly believes that the foods you eat have to be in accordance with your blood type, since he claims that everything you eat can react chemically with your blood.
His belief is that if you eat according to your blood type you will be able to lose more weight, than you would on any diet, and you would be able to keep that weight down, as well as avoid many diseases, by keeping yourself healthier than ever.
What differentiates it from other diets
The thing that makes this diet so different from all other diets is that it does not have the typical characteristics all other diets have, like: calorie count and calorie restrictions, as well as a strict daily regimen. It is simply a guideline that you can follow to get yourself eating the foods which are right for you. All types have different food groups which are better for them to eat, and will be laid out one by one, and explained accordingly.
The Blood Type Diet: What To Eat According To Your Blood Type
What is this diet based on?
This blood type diet is based on the thought that not all foods are good for everyone, and that some have a bigger tolerance to some, but no tolerance to other foods. This and so much more can be determined simply by knowing your blood type, D’Amato says. He divides all foods into groups: highly beneficial, neutral and foods which should be avoided. They are different for all blood types, you just need to find yours, and see which foods are best for you and your body. If you find his way of thinking interesting and you’re eager to find out for yourself what this diet is actually about, stick with us till the end, and we promise to try and answer all the questions you might possibly have.
What you’ll be eating
The food that you’ll be eating depends solely on your blood type so let’s see what D’Amato recommends for each blood type separately:
Type O: A high protein regimen, which includes: lean meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, beans, grains and dairy products. He also recommends for them to take vitamin supplements, as people with Type O blood tend to have irritable bowels and stomach problems. Other foods which are recommended for this blood type are: lentils, wheat, corn, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, mustard greens, cauliflower, kelp, seafood, kale, spinach and broccoli. These are foods which are not only right for people with type O blood, but are good for weight loss too. Exercise should also be included.
Type A: a meatless (vegetarian) diet, based on veggies, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Try to eat them fresh and organic, as most people with this blood type tend to have a weak and sensitive immune system. Meat and dairy products are excluded, but you can eat their way healthier substitutes, like: protein rich veggies, beans, lentils and grains, as well as tofu, and other soy foods. You should include a light regimen of exercises as well.
Type B: an omnivore diet, including all meats except chicken, all dairy products, as well as beans, corn, lentils, grains, fruits and veggies, seeds, nuts, eggs and so on. They have to be careful not to eat chicken, as it can be problematic for them, as D’Adamo says. Instead of chicken they can focus on other meat products, dairy and even more veggies, since they are also rich in protein, and will always be healthier than the meat option. You should include a moderate exercise regimen too.
Type AB: it’s a mixed diet that focuses both on type A diet, as well as type B. the foods you’ll be eating are about the same, as for those type, just taken in moderation, along with a moderate exercise regimen. People with this blood type have a lower amount of stomach acid, so they should avoid caffeine, smoked and cured meats, as well as alcohol. They can focus on: tofu, seafood, fruits and veggies (especially leafy green veggies), dairy, meats, legumes, grains, corn, lima beans, kidney beans, seeds, buckwheat, kelp, and pineapple.
The Blood Type Diet: What To Eat According To Your Blood Type
All blood types react in a different way
Blood type O
Individuals with an O type blood will be taking in a lot of protein so they’ll will have to be especially active. It would be best for them to include strength, abs and cardio in their workout regimen. Unlike the other blood types, type O’s have higher stomach acidity, and therefore can digest and process meat properly. It’s recommended that they eat lean, chemical and antibiotic free, locally grown meat, in staid of buying it from some meat industry chain. You can add any kind of meat to your diet, as well as poultry and fish. Dairy products and grains are not so friendly to type O’s, but can be tolerated if consumed in minimal doses. Type O’s will start losing weight as soon as they start their diet, as they will restrict their intake of grains, breads, sweets, legumes and beans. Gluten is also known as one of the leading factors in weight gain for type O’s. Lentils, beans and legumes certainly aid the weight gain process too, since they contain lectins, making the muscles less prepared for exercising and physical activity.
You also need to avoid foods which inhibit the function of the thyroid hormone, since type O individuals tend to have lower levels of this hormone. Such foods include: Brussel sprouts, cabbage, mustard greens and cauliflower. It’s recommended that you eat veggies rich in vitamin K, and alkaline fruits, such as: plums, berries, and so on, as they tend to have a very acidic stomach fluid.
Blood type A
People with type A are known to flourish while they are on a strictly vegetarian diet. They react best to veggies, fruits, whole grains, seeds and so on. It is also important for them to eat their foods in their natural state: raw and organic. If you are a meat lover, and you typically consume meat each day be sure that you will see immediate results from the diet. In the first few weeks you’ll start to feel fresher and more energized, and you’ll start losing weight. You’ll not only feel healthier, but you’ll also be healthier, as your body will start to get rid of all the toxins you have been taking along with your meat diet. You’ll notice changes in your mood, as you start feeling fresher and more energized, because the meat that you’ve removed from your plate was actually making you sluggish and lazy, D’Adamo says. This is due to the fact that type A’s have a lower acidity in their stomach, and it takes longer for them to process and digest the meat. The slower digestion process actually leads to greater release of toxins and disturbs the balance in the gut. It’s best to get your protein from vegetables, such as beans and legumes. And remember to eat tofu as well.
People with blood type A can tolerate dairy products like: yogurt, kefir, sour cream and milk only in small amounts.
Type A people do have one more weakness, other than meat, as they seem to be quite sensitive to lectins, which can be found in: tomatoes, sweet potato, yams, cabbage and peppers. They should also avoid eating mangoes, oranges and papaya, and focus more on alkaline fruits which won’t create extra stress to their already sensitive stomach.
Type O’s should highly restrict the use of eggs and dairy products, as their system may have problems with proper digestion.
Blood type B
Individuals who strictly follow and live by the recommendations and select only those food choices suitable for them are expected to live a long and healthy life, avoiding many diseases, including cancer. Their diet is a balanced and wholesome one, which includes so many varieties of foods. They are, however advised to avoid foods like corn, lentils, seeds, peanuts and buckwheat, as they have been closely connected with weight gain. It is recommended to leave chicken and gluten products off their menu, especially gluten which can trigger a reaction and cause inflammation in your body. They should also avoid shellfish, but can indulge in all types of deep-ocean fish as much as they’d like. Most nuts and seeds are known to cause problems for them, as they may interfere with the insulin production process. Among those nuts and seeds are especially: sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and peanuts. Wheat may cause a similar problem, and it may even fail to stimulate fat burning too.
What is tolerated very well by these individuals are the fruits and veggies, so be sure not to skimp on those, and include them as much as possible in your diet. Tomatoes, however are definitely not on that list, and should not be eaten at all if you want to avoid stomach irritation.
Blood type AB
It can sometimes be tough to find the right and balanced diet for this individuals, as they do have multiple antigens, and may sometimes behave more like type A’s or more like type B’s, although there are some general tips that do apply to them. For one, it is best for their muscle tissue to be slightly alkaline. It is sometimes hard for them to digest meat properly, because they have low stomach acid, so it’s always a good rule of thumb to keep the portions smaller and more frequent, and be careful not to overeat. Chicken may also irritate them and it’s best kept off the plate, since we do not want our bodies to go through unnecessary stress. If you’re wondering how to replace the protein in your plate, then you have nothing to worry about. Tofu is always a good solution, and so are beans, legumes, mushrooms, some soy product, as well as those tasty leafy green veggies. You can also include portions of mixed nuts in there, but be sure to do that with caution, and not go overboard.
Dairy products are a nice source of nutrients for those with an AB blood type, since they are very good at processing and digesting them.
Grains and wheat are also good for you, but try not to eat them in large quantities, since the inside of the wheat grain is very acidic and may lower your muscles’ potential, making it harder for you to exercise. Also it’s good to have in mind that rice can be way more beneficial to AB type individuals, than pasta can be.
As we already mentioned, you are welcome to eat as much fruits and veggies as you wish, and that’s always in your favor, as AB type individuals tend to have a weaker immune system than the other types. Give your body fruits rich in vitamin C, like: lemons, kiwi and grapefruits. Alkane fruits are also important, as they help balance things out. Such fruits include: berries, plums, grapes, and others.
The Blood Type Diet: What To Eat According To Your Blood Type
General tips for all type
Take all foods in smaller amounts, and don’t overdo any food group, or solely focus on just a particular food group.
Recommended and healthy weight loss should be around 1 to 2 pounds a week, and no more.
Rapid weight loss is not recommended, nor is it good for the body, so do not limit your calories, or go under the optimal daily intake (1600 for women, 2500 for men). Rapid weight loss often results in health complications and makes you more vulnerable to regaining the lost weight quicker than usual.
A good rule of thumb is to try out the diet for at least 2 or 3 months, and see if it’s right for you, and if it does indeed improve your health and general condition. If not, you can still follow the diet, but just as a guideline, and you can add some other foods of your choosing if you’d like, just be sure not to overeat them!
What will be required from you?
You will be required to:
Show a lot of effort, and keep your focus and determination.
Limit yourself, by excluding those food types which are bad for you.
Avoid pre-packaged, store bought meals, and go to the grocery store in staid, so you can get everything you’ll need.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. The level of exercise you’ll need will be based on your blood type.
Limit your portions and try to spread them out equally throughout the day.
Watch out for any kind of allergies or dietary restrictions you might have.
Try to buy locally grown, organic and raw products, whenever possible.
Try to avoid weighing yourself each day, do it weekly in staid.
Talk to your doctor if you need any advice, or need help starting the diet.
Always think about what, where and how much you are eating.
And last but not least, invest your time, strength, and all that you got to keep going, and fully commit to the diet.
The benefits of the diet
What you’ll be getting out from this dieting regimen is a better and faster metabolism, more energy, and less diseases. Now who doesn’t want that? You’ll also be eating right, you’ll be eating healthy and you’ll feel much better than you used to.
How does it work? – You might ask yourself. Well the answer is simple, D’Adamo believes that all blood types have a different way of digesting the food proteins (lectins), and that is why eating the wrong foods, might even have a negative effect on you and your body. Among these effects are a slower metabolism, bloating, swelling, and even some diseases, such as cancer.
D’Adamo’s thought is that not all people should follow the same diet, and even though there haven’t been enough studies conducted that may determine the link between this dieting regimen and diseases and illnesses you might develop, you may be interested to find out about his premise and his intriguing way of dieting.
The Blood Type Diet: What To Eat According To Your Blood Type
Final thoughts
This diet is unique in a way that it admits that we are all different from one another, and our bodies do not function the same way. That is why it’s important to see what your body’s like and what foods would be best for you to eat, which will help you avoid future health problems and diseases. This diet also promotes a healthy lifestyle by encouraging people to exercise while they are following the regimen. There are some success stories that people have shared after trying the diet, but they have not yet been based on medical research that has confirmed the premise of this diet.
It may be hard for you to exclude a whole group of foods from your plate, but it may also be worth it. It’s yours to try it and tell us if it did work for you.