Have you heard of the blood type diet?- You probably have, but do you know what it means?
According to this eating regime, your blood group may determine which foods are the best for you.
Although there’s not a lot of scientific research to support the claimed advantages of this diet, it’s increasingly popular among people trying to improve their health by bettering their diet.
The blood type diet or BTD became popular in 1996 by Dr. Peter D’Adamo and his book Eat Right 4 Your Types. According to Dr. D’Adamo, the best diet and exercise for an individual depends on their blood type.
Eating according to your blood type can boost your health and lower your risk of chronic illnesses.
In the book, he explains that our blood type represents the genetic traits of our ancestors and which type of diet helped them thrive.
The Different Blood Types Explained
One’s blood type depends on genetics. The BTD categorizes the foods eaten for each blood to reflect the diet of our ancestors.
These are the blood types as we know them:
- Type A or the Agrarian type thrives on a vegetarian diet
- Type B or the Nomadic type thrives on a dairy-rich diet
- Type AB or Enigma thrives on a combination of the A and B diets
- Type O or the Hunter type is the oldest blood type which thrives on a diet rich in animal protein
The Blood Type Diet: How Does It Work?
One of the main theories of the BTD is linked with the proteins known as lectins. This family of proteins attaches to carbohydrate molecules.
Plant-based lectins or anti-nutrients may cause negative effects in humans like diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea.
The BTD theory notes that if we consume the wrong lectins, we may target different blood types. They may cause agglutination of the red blood cells or clumping, further increasing the risk of diseases.
Some research claims that a small percentage of lectins in raw and uncooked legumes may have a clumping activity specific to a specific blood type.
In a 2004 review, it was suggested that raw lima beans may influence the red blood cells in people with blood type A. Overall though, most of the agglutinating lectins react with all of the blood types.
So, the lectins in the diet may not be associated with a specific blood type, except with some raw legumes.
Which Foods to Eat According to Your Blood Type
Below, check out the list of foods that you should eat according to your blood type as noted in Dr. D’Adamo’s book:
Type A
- Eggs
- Ghee
- Soy milk
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Fennel
- Pumpkin
- Kale
- Apricots
- Blueberries
- Grapefruit
- Cherries
- Pineapple
- Brown rice flour
- Oat flour
- Tofu
- Chicken
- Tempeh
- Turkey
- Cod
Type B
- Broccoli
- Beets
- Carrots
- Cow milk
- Goat cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Mozzarella
- Yogurt
- Kidney beans
- Oat bread
- Spelt bread
- Peppers
- Almonds
- Grapes
- Cranberries
- Eggplant
- Venison
- Cod
- Lamb
- Halibut
Type AB
- Cauliflower
- Watermelon
- Garlic
- Parsnip
- Figs
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Goat milk
- Mozzarella
- Lentils
- Peanut butter
- Walnuts
- Tofu
- Curry
- Red wine
- Lamb
- Cod
- Turkey
- Beets
- Navy beans
Type O
- Lamb
- Fish
- Beef
- Poultry
- Kale
- Spinach
- Onion
- Bananas
- Sweet potatoes
- Feta cheese
- Ginger tea
- Almonds
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Butter
- Mangos
- Artichokes
- Olive oil
- Parsley
- Flaxseed
All four diets are based on mostly healthy and whole foods instead of processed foods. Even if you try to follow some of these diets and they better your health, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s because of your blood type.
The benefits may be a result of focusing on healthier foods.
Foods to Avoid According to Your Blood Type
Dr. D’Adamo notes that these are some of the foods that you should stay away from according to your blood type group:
Type A
- Garbanzo beans
- Eggplants
- Tomatoes
- Lima beans
Type B
- Corn
- Soy
- Chicken
- Lentils
Type AB
- Bananas
- Fava beans
- Corn
- Chicken
Type O
- Peanuts
- Kidney beans
- Soybean oil
- Wheat
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