Blood type diet, otherwise known as the Blood Group Diet, focuses on an eating style that depends upon your blood types. This weight loss plan was made by Peter J. D’Adamo, a naturopathic physician. Consuming food based on your blood type aids in better digestion, prevents illnesses and diseases, and increases the energy levels. Moreover, it also assists you to lose weight. It is a popular weight-loss plan. Even if 2 individuals do the same exercises and follow the same diet plan to shed weight, their body’s reaction would be different. Since the blood types are different, this change happens and so eat right for your blood type diet. It recommends specific types of diet plans for different blood groups, which includes and excludes certain foods.
Generally, four types of blood groups are available in the human body, such as A, B, O, and AB. So, eating the right foods based on the blood type will make you feel better. For instance, people with A-type blood need to eat vegetarian foods because it is more predisposed to heart disease and cancer. People with B type blood also have to eat many types of food like dairy. Likewise, individuals with O type blood must eat protein-rich foods, as well as they should avoid dairy products.
A Food List for Every Blood Type: What to Eat and Avoid
If you are interested in the blood type diet, here are the foods you must eat and avoid, according to your blood type:
- Type O Blood – It is a high-protein diet. Typically, O (+ve and –ve) is the oldest blood type, and such people are also known as “hunters”. Type Os have a more sensitive digestive system. So, these people should choose high-protein foods and consume plenty of vegetables, meat, fruits, and high in saltwater fish but avoid wheat, corn, dairy products, grains, and some legumes like kidney beans and lentil. To lose weight, red meat, broccoli, spinach, seafood, and olive oil are the best. However, type O produces more acid in their stomach and shouldn’t consume oranges and blackberries because they might cause inflammation of the stomach lining (1, 2).
- Type A Blood- It closely resembles the vegetarian diet. Generally, A (+ve and –ve) is the first ancestral blood type. For instance, individuals with A-type blood that they are called “agrarians” or “cultivator” and these people have a sensitive immune system and thus should consume a diet rich in plants and include vegetables, tofu, seafood, turkey, fruit, and whole grains but avoid meat. To weight loss, pineapple, vegetables, seafood, soy protein such as tofu, and olive oil are best, and also they should avoid dairy, corn, wheat, and certain kinds of legumes and beans.
- Type B Blood – The blood type B (+ve and –ve) individuals, also known as “nomads,” have a robust immune system, tolerant digestive system, and survives chronic disorders better than any other blood type (3). These people should eat both meats and plants, dairy products, seafood but should avoid chicken. Chicken contains a blood type B agglutinating lectin in its muscle tissue, which is also problematic to their health. Other foods that help weight loss are eggs, green vegetables, beneficial meats, and low-fat dairy. This diet type is very similar to the paleo diet because it is high in unprocessed meats, vegetables, fruits, and also accepts dairy.
- Type AB Blood – The AB blood type is the rarest, and these people are also known as “enigma”. It is a mix between A and B blood types. Individuals with type AB blood are more biologically complex than other types. However, these people have low stomach acid and so should avoid alcohol, caffeine, and black tea. The variety of foods ABs need to eat are tofu, seafood, dairy, grains, eggs, walnuts, oats, rye, plums, and beans but avoid chicken, beef, kidney beans, and corn.
A One Day Sample Meal Plan for Each Blood Type
Type O
- Breakfast: Two slices of toasted Ezekiel bread with almond butter, a small cup of grapes, and vegetable juice.
- Lunch: A dandelion greens salad topped with roast beef and fresh fruit.
- Snack: Rice cake with tahini or a handful of almonds.
- Dinner: Grilled fish with roasted broccoli and spinach.
- Dessert: Fruit salad.
Type A
- Breakfast: Buckwheat pancakes topped with maple syrup.
- Lunch: Curried peanut tempeh with celery, carrots, and broccoli.
- Snack: Trail mix.
- Dinner: Rice pasta with feta and greens.
- Dessert: Crumb apple pie.
Type B
- Breakfast: Oatmeal with unsalted ghee.
- Lunch: Indian curry salad.
- Snack: Kale chips.
- Dinner: Apple braised lamb shoulder chops.
- Dessert: Carob fudge.
Type AB
- Breakfast: Silken tofu scramble with carrots and zucchini.
- Lunch: Cream of mushroom soup.
- Snack: White bean hummus with celery sticks.
- Dinner: Grilled cod and vegetables over apricot-walnut couscous.
- Dessert: Flourless almond butter and raisin cookies.
Link of Lectins Between Diet and Blood Type
Lectin is a type of protein that binds sugar molecules based on your blood type. Since the lectins can negatively impact some blood types than others, limiting the number of lectins in the diet plan is the main concept. The small number of lectins that may provide numerous health benefits but higher amounts can reduce your nutrients absorption. Also, lectins may have adverse effects on the lining of the gut (4). However, consuming the wrong types of lectins could lead to agglutination of your red blood cells (5). People should avoid red kidney beans, soybeans, wheat, peanuts, tomatoes, and potatoes during the diet plan because it has high lectins levels.
Summary
Different diets work for different people; choose the one that matches your lifestyle and is backed by evidence.
If you choose the blood type diet to lose weight, then eat healthily, avoid processed food and carbs. But the weight loss on this diet is not linked to your blood type. However, this diet gives you more energy.
