The Blood Type Diet
The Blood Type Diet, developed by Dr Peter D’Adamo postulates, that our blood group determines how our bodies deal with different nutrients. D’Adamo’s theory is based on the idea that each blood group has its own unique antigen marker. An antigen marker is a substance that the body recognizes as being not good. This marker reacts badly with certain foods, leading to all sorts of potential health problems. Dr D’Adamo’s theory states that the level of acidity in the stomach and the levels of digestive enzymes are linked with your blood type. By following a diet designed specifically for your blood type, your body will digest and absorb food more efficiently. The result is that you lose weight.
Dr D’Adamo says that the different blood types evolved at different times throughout history. Consequently we should eat a diet based on the types of foods our ancestors typically ate at the time when our blood type was first recognized.
When did the blood types evolve?
Blood Group O was the first blood type, developing in our hunter-gatherer ancestors around 50,000 B.C. Dr D’Adamo believes because our type O ancestors survived and thrived on a high-protein, meat-based diet, that’s the type of diet people with blood group O should follow.
Blood Group A developed sometime around 15,000 B.C. By this time our ancestors started to settle into farming-type communities. The creation of blood type A around this time meant our ancestors did well on a vegetarian-based diet. And again, The Blood Type Diet recommends that blood group A people should today follow a diet based on vegetables.
Blood type B supposedly evolved around 10,000 B.C thanks to our nomadic ancestors. They left their farms and started wandering the land, constantly moving from place to place. Consequently, The Blood Type Diet states, blood group B people today do best with eating a varied diet that consists of most foods including meat, dairy, grains and vegetables.
Finally came blood type AB, which evolved just 1,000 years ago. Dr D'Adamo thinks this blood type helped our ancestors make the transition to modern times. Meaning that people with blood group AB can eat a mixture of the foods suitable for both blood group A and blood group B.
What you can and can’t eat
The Blood Type Diet gives a detailed list of foods that should be avoided and those that can be included for each of the four blood types:
Blood Group O
This is the most common blood group in Europe. The Blood Type Diet says that our digestive tract retains the memory of ancient times, and so type O people need to eat a typical hunter-gatherer type diet. In other words, people with blood type O should follow a high-protein, low-carb diet with lots of meat and fish but no dairy products, wheat or grains.
Foods you can eat freely include meat, fish and olive oil; foods you can eat in moderation include eggs, nuts, seeds, certain vegetables and fruits; and foods to avoid include dairy products, beans, cereals, bread, pasta and rice.
To complement your food intake, the Blood Type Diet recommends lots of vigorous aerobic exercise such as aerobics and running – just like our hunter-gatherer ancestors did!
Blood Group A
This is the second most common blood type. Again according to Dr D'Adamo, our digestive system is apparently very good at remembering that our ancestors had settled, farming lifestyles, which included eating lots of grains and vegetables but little meat. Consequently, blood type A’s should follow a vegetarian diet but still avoid dairy products.
This means nuts, seeds, beans, cereals, pasta, rice, fruit and vegetables are all on the ‘to eat’ list.
Calming exercises are thought to be best for blood type A people such as yoga or golf.
Blood Group B
Only one person in 10 has blood type B .As our type B ancestors were able to thrive on all sorts of foods, thanks to all that traveling, very few foods need to be avoided and this is the closest you’ll get to a healthy, balanced diet from Dr D'Adamo’s point of view.
The only foods that need to be avoided are processed foods, although nuts and seeds aren’t recommended and only small amounts of carb-rich foods should be eaten.
When it comes to exercise, The Blood Type Diet recommends activities that have some mental component, such as hiking, tennis and swimming.
Blood Group AB
People with this rare blood type should eat a combination of the foods recommended for blood groups A and B. The Blood Type Diet suggests that type AB people follow a veggie diet most of the time with some meat, fish and dairy products occasionally.
It’s the same when it comes to exercise too – blood type ABs should combine calming exercises with moderately intense activities.