The Blood Type Diet

Greetings, Wellness Warriors! Do you know your blood type? This is certainly something important to know if there ever was an emergency and you needed a blood transfusion. However, could eating a diet based on your blood type – O, A, B, or AB – help you get healthier? That's the idea behind the Blood Type Diet.

Knowledge is Power

Research indicates that your blood type is a key genetic factor that influences many aspects of health and well-being. According to naturopath Peter J. D'Adamo, when you follow a diet designed for your blood type, your body will digest food more efficiently because food reacts chemically with your blood type. Fad diets come and go, but the fact is everyone does not have the same basic nutritional needs. We all know someone who is a vegetarian and feel healthier or more clear-headed on that diet, while others swear by KETO or similar low-carb plans. D'Adamo has found that your blood type can determine nutritional needs, and by choosing the foods that react best with your blood type, you'll be able to lose weight, reduce inflammation, increase energy, and lead a longer, healthier life.

Breaking Down the Basics

The basis of the diet revolves around food and exercise guidelines for each blood type. This may not be easy to follow for some, but I truly believe in this plan's effectiveness and hope that in giving it a try, you’ll become a believer too. The following are the recommendations for each blood type.

Those with type O blood should choose high-protein foods and eat lots of meat, vegetables, fish, and fruit, but limit grains, beans, and legumes. To lose weight, seafood, kelp, red meat, broccoli, spinach, and olive oil are best; wheat, corn, and dairy should be avoided. People with type O blood have a fight or flight reaction to stress, resulting in the overproduction of adrenaline. It takes type O's longer to recover from stress because it is more difficult for them to clear the adrenaline from their bodies. Ideal exercises for Type O's include aerobics, martial arts, contact sports, and running.

Those with type A blood should choose fruit, vegetables, tofu, seafood, turkey, and whole grains but avoid meat. For weight loss, seafood, vegetables, pineapple, olive oil, and soy are best. They should avoid dairy, wheat, corn, and kidney beans. Type A people naturally have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their bodies and produce more in response to stressful situations. For this reason, they can significantly benefit from calming, centering exercises, such as yoga and tai chi.

Those with type B blood should pick a diverse diet, including meat, fruit, dairy, seafood, and grains. To lose weight, type B’s should choose green vegetables, eggs, liver, and licorice tea but avoid chicken, corn, peanuts, and wheat. Type B's do best with moderate physical exercise requiring mental balance, such as hiking, cycling, tennis, and swimming.

Those with type AB blood should eat dairy, tofu, lamb, fish, grains, fruit, and vegetables. Tofu, seafood, green vegetables, and kelp are best for weight loss. Foods that should be avoided are chicken, corn, buckwheat, and kidney beans. For this group, a combination of the exercises for type A and B is recommended.

More than Just Weight Loss Eating for your blood type can also help prevent disease. According to D'Adamo, a person's blood type can make them more susceptible to certain diseases or conditions. For example, Type O's are the most likely to suffer from asthma, hay fever, and other allergies, while Type B's have a high allergy threshold and react allergically only if they eat the wrong foods. Type B's are also especially susceptible to autoimmune disorders, such as chronic fatigue, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Type AB's tend to have the fewest problems with allergies, while heart disease, cancer, and anemia are medical risks for them.

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With arthritis, Type O's are again the predominant sufferers because their immune systems are "environmentally intolerant," especially to foods such as grains and potatoes, which can produce inflammatory reactions in their joints, says Dr. D'Adamo. Types A and B are the most susceptible to diabetes, while types A and AB have an overall higher cancer rate and lower survival odds than the other types.

Final Thoughts

If there is one thing all humans have in common, it’s that we want to live a long and healthy life. I believe that for some, The Blood Type Diet can be one of the factors that can help you live 30 Summers More. Remember, everyone has different nutritional needs, and this can serve as a guideline to help you achieve lasting wellness.

Until next time, Wellness Warriors, Live Well, Live Long!

~Dwayne.